BROOKVILLE, Ind. -- On three enclosed acres near Brookville in eastern Indiana, Kathy and Terry Baudendistel take care of 29 wolves from around the country.

The couple began rescuing wolves in 1998 and opened the Wolf Creek Habitat and Rescue to the public, by appointment, five years ago. They are the RTV6 Leadership Award winners for Dec. 22.

"We really decided that we wanted to educate people about these guys because they're so misunderstood," Kathy Baudendistel said.

The Baudendistels consider wolves to be part of the nation's heritage and teach their role in history to school groups, other visitors and student volunteers.

"We have a six-pack here that came from Pennsylvania … in a 10 by 10 cage, and when we let them loose out here, that was the first time they ever ran," Kathy Baudendistel said. "It was heartbreaking. They're deformed, but they're going to live their life out here. They were in a really bad situation."

The Baudendistels say they feel people can learn much from wolves.

"They are such a mysterious animal to begin with, because you can't literally just go out in the wild and find one. I think that's what brings people here, to see their first wolf," Kathy Baudendistel said.

Find out how you can nominate someone for the RTV6 Leadership Award.