Clarke Central High School Career, Technical and Agricultural Education department teacher and CCHS National FFA Organization co-adviser Levi Carr-Brooks holds a plant in the CCHS Greenhouse on Feb. 17. Due to the snow days that took place on Jan. 25 and Jan. 31, the plants meant for the sale that were stored outside of the greenhouse had to be taken inside of the classrooms to keep warm, which was a struggle for the students and teachers. “We (had) some loss through all of that that can’t be recovered, but it’s one of those things you can’t help, (but) we keep pushing forward and try to make the best of what we can,” Carr-Brooks said. Photo by Miriam Silk
CCHS’ National FFA Organization will host its Spring Plant Sale from April 1-3 from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the CCHS Greenhouse.
Herbs, annuals, perennials, and vegetables, oh my! These are all the different types of plants that will be sold at Clarke Central High School’s National FFA Organization Spring Plant Sale in and around the CCHS Greenhouse from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 1-3.
Since her first time helping out with the sale during the 2022-23 school year, FFA Sentinel Juliana Hardman, a senior, has seen growth both in the number and variety of plants and the number of attendees.
“Our plant sale is a big thing around (CCHS). It brings the community together. Not just people here at school, but people that live (in) Athens,” Hardman said. “Last year was our biggest plant sale yet. We made (around) $10,000 last year.”
The plants are delivered late in the fall semester and then transplanted into pots by FFA officers, and Agriculture and Horticulture students in order to get ready for the sale. Funds from the sale go towards FFA conventions and their monthly member meetings and bimonthly officer meetings.
“Being a student-run organization, (FFA) needs funds in order to do activities. That’s mainly what the plant sale (is), it brings in funds and support,” Hardman said. “It’s a big thing, supporting the students, along with the organization.”
Clarke Central High School National Future Farmers of America Organization Sentinel Juliana Hardman, a senior, fixes a plant in the CCHS Greenhouse on March 25. CCHS’s FFA has been advertising the upcoming plant sale through flyers around the school, Instagram and Facebook. “Some (customers) that we get from this plant sale, they’ve been coming every year. It’s great to see that they keep coming back,” Hardman said. Photo by Miriam Silk
“At the end of the day, the real blood, sweat and tears come from our students that are in our classes and (the) students that stay after to help in the greenhouse.”
— Levi Carr-Brooks,
Career, Technical and Agricultural Education department teacher and CCHS National FFA Organization co- adviser
CCHS Agriculture and Horticulture students, CCHS FFA officers, and Clarke Middle School agriculture students have been in the greenhouse consistently, planting, organizing, and learning the names and properties of each plant that will be for sale.
“Everybody gets so excited to see all the plants, but more importantly, to see all of the students’ hard work. That’s one thing that (CCHS Career, Technical and Agricultural Education department teacher and FFA co-adviser Anthony Brooks and I) take pride in, that this is students’ work,” FFA co-adviser Levi Carr-Brooks said. “At the end of the day, the real blood, sweat and tears come from our students that are in our classes and (the) students that stay after to help in the greenhouse.”
