Students Celebrate Locally Grown Food

The zoology class didn't raise eyebrows this week when it butchered a lamb grown by students and slaughtered by a teacher. "They hung it with a front-end loader and butchered it like a deer," said Emily Reardon, who teaches nutrition through gardening.

Springport High School sophomore Shanon Bell, trimming bite-size chunks of barbecued lamb Friday, said she enjoys the hands-on education at Springport.

"This is a lot more fun than at my last school,'' she said. She transferred from Dexter schools.

Springport has the most active FFA, or Future Farmers of America, chapter and agriscience program in Jackson County, and most students grow up around farming and hunting.

The school celebrated locally grown food Friday with HarvestFest, and kicked off a can drive for needy families.

Students prepared and cooked potatoes from Lyle Curtis Farm of Brooklyn, and squash and apples grown by a Springport teacher.

Elementary students spent part of the day making apple crisp, while others cooked and mashed potatoes or baked squash. Every student had the chance to taste lamb and lamb bratwurst, plus bigger helpings of apple crisp, potatoes and squash.

"I love lamb. I eat it whenever I can,'' said senior Josh Raymond. He is among dozens of students who have raised animals on school grounds

The lamb was roasted outside on a spit. It was among hundreds of animals students have raised and marketed since 2005.

The student cooperative -- funded by students -- also grows greenhouse vegetables, beef cattle and pastured chickens.

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My Comment:

Boy, I was excited last week when my son brought home his school newsletter for November. The newsletter notified parents of the school using organic snacks. The school was providing some organic snacks, and asked parent to buy some organic snacks too. This is great for the toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners at his school.

But, those kids at Springport Highschool in Springport Michigan, really have a great program. That is an awesome story! What a great opportunity for kids to learn about food, and better yet, enjoy the wonderful tastes of fresh local homemade food. Yummy!