Redbird Daryle Wragge ’71 planted his life and career in the family farm where he grew up near Roanoke. Now, he’s turning his family legacy into a Redbird Legacy that will continue to grow and prosper at Illinois State University.
As a student at Illinois State, Wragge studied agricultural education, and after graduating, he began to teach across Central Illinois. In high schools and community colleges across the area, Wragge impacted the lives of students who would one day become the future of agriculture. While educating students, Wragge also continued to farm his family homestead.
The farmland has been in Wragge’s family for generations tracing all the way back to his great-grandfather.
“My great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from Germany, worked on the railroad, and saved up his money. When he finally had enough, he took his horse and buggy to purchase the title for what would become our family homestead,” said Wragge.
Since then, Wragge, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather have passed down the family farm from generation to generation. Over the past nearly 150 years, the Wragge family has grown and farmed the land that has only continued to flourish.
“We’re very fortunate. This land is probably some of the best in the area with its soil and lay off,” said Wragge.
Through the years, Wragge’s connection to Illinois State remained strong. He decided to take that connection to his alma mater one step further by gifting 40 acres of his family homestead to the University.
“This is my simple way of saying thank you,” said Wragge. “ISU has been a big part of my life. It wasn’t just a place. It’s where I made friends.”
This rich farmland will be gifted to the University in Wragge’s estate. Gifts of real estate and farmland make a great impact on the University and will allow Wragge’s family legacy to continue to grow at a place that is near to his heart.
“It’s a place to leave my family’s legacy, and at the same time, I hope that this land is able to help some other students, faculty, or alumni along the way,” said Wragge.
Real estate gifts, like Wragge’s, are a unique opportunity to give back to Illinois State. Homes, vacation properties, undeveloped land, ranch property, commercial property, or farmland, like the Wragge homestead, can make impactful gifts to the University, while also offering great financial benefits to those making the gift.
When gifting real estate, the donor can avoid paying capital gain taxes on the sale of real estate and receive a charitable income tax deduction in addition to creating a long-lasting legacy at Illinois State.
By leaving his farmland to Illinois State, Wragge is also provided with a sense of security about the future and well-being of his family’s homestead.
“I am happy and honored to be able to do what I did. I know the farm will be managed well. It will be taken care of and never sold,” said Wragge. “ISU will always be a friend of mine.”
Appreciated real estate gifts can make a great gift to Illinois State and can be made during a donor’s lifetime or through an estate plan. If you are interested in gifting appreciated real estate to Illinois State University, contact College of Applied Science and Technology Director of Development Toni Burningham at tkburni@IllinoisState.edu or (309) 438-4303.
