Meet the Rayford family from Winona, MN, a dynamic and creative group who embrace their identity as a blended family. Davin and Elizabeth, along with their children Bingham (11), Billy (9.5), and Simon (1), and their loyal dog Chester, thrive on storytelling, adventuring, and building—both in life and LEGO creations! They cherish each other’s differences and find joy in making their own unique path as a family.
Life for the Rayford family is full of fun and connection. From Sunday movie nights, singalongs, and video games to hiking and reading aloud together, they prioritize family time. Fantasy books like The Wingfeather Saga and Wings of Fire are favorites, while Elizabeth adds historical fiction, essays, and poetry to the mix. The boys are active in sports and especially love soccer. They also enjoy robotics and showcasing their impressive LEGO-building skills. They especially love their LEGO class at Venture School in Albert Lea.
Music is another passion for the family. Billy and Davin play the drums and Bingham is learning piano and bass guitar. The family is also deeply involved in their church, where Elizabeth serves as the children’s ministry director, Davin leads a men’s group, and the boys are known for their welcoming spirit and love of serving others.
Having been home educated from the beginning, the family has explored a variety of approaches, from unschooling to classical to Charlotte Mason methods. They cherish nature walks, learning from their surroundings, and having meaningful conversations during their adventures. Venture Upward came into their lives at the perfect time when Elizabeth was pregnant with Simon. She realized she needed support in leading the boys’ education, and the program has enabled Bingham and Billy to become independent learners.
Venture Upward has helped the family hit their academic goals while seamlessly integrating real-life learning. Bingham loves science, while Billy enjoys math, fine arts, and drawing. Field trips with Venture, like visits to Sea Life, have been highlights, as have activities like the Geography Fair (where they presented on Ghana) and the Maker’s Market, where they sold cranberry bread and handmade jewelry. They are already excitedly brainstorming ideas for the upcoming science fair!
The family appreciates the flexibility Venture offers, which allows them to balance education with their rich extracurricular lives. Favorite Venture Reward items include Crunch Labs, LEGO, picture books, art supplies, and much-needed headphones. Elizabeth sums it up perfectly: “The thing I love most about home educating is that we get to spend the majority of our time together. We can have great conversations about everything we are doing and experiencing.”
The Rayford family embodies lifelong learning, finding curiosity and growth in every moment, and making education a seamless, joyful part of their everyday lives.

“The thing I love most about home educating is that we get to spend the majority of our time together. We can have great conversations about everything we are doing and experiencing.”
~Elizabeth Rayford