Buckhannon-Upshur High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) has chrysanthemums for sale while supplies last. The greenhouse will be open Tuesday, September 27, and Wednesday, September 28, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. each evening. Pricing is one for $12 or two for $20.
Agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Joe Hymes is excited about this year’s sale, “This year’s mums were grown right here in Upshur County.” Kari Gay, a junior at B-UHS, raised the mums this summer and sold them to the greenhouse program. “All of our agriculture students have Supervised Agriculture Experiences. Some students own livestock, and others work in the agriculture business. It is very rewarding as a teacher when you can financially support a student instead of a wholesaler,” explains Mr. Hymes.
All the money goes to keep the greenhouse running and to benefit the FFA programs,” Hymes explains. “This is one of the first marketing and order fulfillment projects students operate in the greenhouse. Students water and care for the mums, assist with customer orders and help out after school during customer pick-up, so it gives the student’s classroom experience and some leadership experience.”
According to Hymes, there are many layers to the FFA program and the classes taught at the high school.
“I teach a horticulture class which is all about the greenhouse and raising plants, and then I have a Forestry class. Mrs. Allyson Lewis offers Natural Resources, Animal Production, and Agriculture Entrepreneurship. Mr. Cole Payne offers Agriculture Mechanics courses.” Hymes explained. “Our courses are diverse and hands-on, so whether it’s electrical wiring or ag-mechanics or livestock judging or poultry judging, they’re all career-oriented.”
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