Author photo

By Michaela Friedrich
Cheney Free Press 

FFA greenhouse sales a big success

 

Last updated 5/19/2022 at 1:55pm

CHENEY—After two months of hosting Thursday plant sales in their greenhouse, Cheney High School’s (CHS) FFA is wrapping things up and they’re going out with a bang.

FFA student member and CHS senior Andrew Reimer-Golden, said there was more than one outcome of the sale.

“We’re trying something new to get more income for FFA,” Reimer-Golden said.

“By having smaller sales, and having a more consistent sale base, the FFA hoped to have raised more funds and bring awareness to their final two day sale event on May 18 and 19.”

Conner Barsness is a first year FFA member who works in the greenhouse.

“Everybody who comes in usually buys one or two things that we have out there during these smaller sales, but they also get to see what we are growing for the big sale,” Barsness said. “They’ll say like ‘Oh, I definitely want to come back for that.’”

The money that FFA makes from the plant sales goes back into their budget for things like the FFA state convention, FFA trips and supplies to run the greenhouse.

“Our soil to plant everything, our bigger pots, and our hanging baskets all come from this income,” Reimer-Golden said.

Both FFA members said this plant sale has an impact on FFA members that surpasses the financial side of things.

“It helps give students a chance to work behind a register and communicate with our community,” Reimer-Golden said. “It [The community] can teach you at the same time as you teaching them. All around, this is a really great purpose to keep younger kids coming in to this program.”

Planning, participation and upkeep for the CHS greenhouse give FFA students the opportunity to develop lifelong leadership skills in a supportive communal environment.

“It gives students more experience in the workforce,” Barsness said. “A lot of the students, especially freshman and sophomores, can’t drive—this has been helpful to a lot of people because they get a feel for how a job is going to be.”

Both students said their Ag teacher and FFA advisor, Heather McLagan, does a lot to add career elements to her classes and projects.

“Most Monday’s we have a career readiness discussion about things like being on time and recognizing strengths and weaknesses in group work,” McLagan said. “Then every Friday, they self-reflect on how they did on that particular topic.”

There is a lot of classwork in addition to the greenhouse project making a well-rounded experience for the FFA students.

“The way I grade them out here is by treating it as if this were a regular day of work,” McLagan said. “I grade them as if I’m their boss when evaluating their performance.”

McLagan is planning to continue the weekly plant sales, leading up to another big sale at the end of their next school year. She attributed the turn out of the sales to the work of her students and the support of the Cheney community.

Author Bio

Michaela Friedrich, Former intern

Author photo

Michaela is a former newsroom intern at the Cheney Free Press. She covered stories on education, city government, cops/courts/fire departments and local businesses.

 

Reader Comments(0)

 
 

Our Family of Publications Includes:

Cheney Free Press
Ritzville Adams County Journal
Whitman County Gazette
Odessa Record
Franklin Connection
Davenport Times
Spokane Valley News Herald
Colfax Daily Bulletin

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024