RDREFF Awarded Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities // The Rex Dobson Ruby Ellen Farm Foundation

RDREFF Awarded Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Suttons Bay, MI -- The Rex Dobson Ruby Ellen Farm Foundation (RDREFF) has been awarded a $10,000 Consultation Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in support of interpretive planning for the Ruby Ellen Farm, a 148 acre Michigan Centennial Farm owned and operated by fourth-generation farmer Rex Dobson in Bingham Township, Leelanau County, Michigan.

"This grant is an important step in the development of the Rex Dobson Ruby Ellen Farm Foundation," said Rick Wilson, President of the RDREFF. "We look forward to collaborating with humanities professionals and the community to chart a course for the Ruby Ellen Farm as a place to learn about our agricultural heritage."

During the twelve month period of the grant, a team of community, public, and academic humanities consultants will undertake a variety of activities leading to a long-range interpretive plan for Ruby Ellen Farm. Established by William Core in 1865, the farm will become an educational resource open to the general public in the future. Planning team members include Julie Avery (Michigan State University Museum); Peggy Core (Secretary and Co-Treasurer, RDREFF); Kathryn Eckert (Emeritus State Historic Preservation Officer); Nancy Kotting (Historic Preservation Counsel, RDREFF); Mark Livengood (Project Director); Rex Shugart (Local History Counsel, RDREFF); and Joellen Vinyard (Eastern Michigan University). NEH grants are awarded on a competitive basis. Throughout the year, humanities experts outside of the Endowment and members of the National Council on the Humanities consider applications and advise the NEH on the quality and significance of each proposed project. Thirteen consultation grants were awarded in this cycle. For seven of the thirteen institutions, the new consultation grant is their first NEH grant of any kind. "Museums and historical organizations bring the humanities to life for many Americans," said NEH Chairman Bruce Cole in announcing the awards. "Through the collaboration of scholars, curators, and exhibit designers, audiences will deepen their understanding of history and culture through excellent programming in the humanities."

Established as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in 2002, the Rex Dobson Ruby Ellen Farm Foundation was founded by Rex Dobson to safeguard and interpret the natural and cultural resources of his family's homestead. The Foundation's mission is to document, preserve, and perpetuate the historical, cultural, and environmental resources of the Ruby Ellen Farm for the benefit and education of current and future generations.

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities. More information about the NEH and its grant programs is available at www.NEH.gov.

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