Middle school students grow it, sell it and sell out - most Fridays.
By midmorning most Fridays, a steady stream of grandparents, parents and passersby gathers outside a small produce stand on the edge of Tomlin Middle School. By afternoon, the shelves are usually bare.
That’s just how the Tomlin FFA produce stand works.
Run by the school’s agriculture and FFA program, the stand is open most Fridays when school is in session from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., offering strawberries, lettuce, collards, flowers, eggs and other student-grown goods. What began as selling extra produce to staff has grown into a weekly community stop – and a hands-on classroom.
“We’re growing all this fresh produce and didn’t want it to go to waste,” said Kelly Goff, one of Tomlin’s agriculture teachers and FFA advisors, now in her 12th year at the school. “We outgrew selling to staff, then a small trailer was donated and eventually the district built us this stand in 2020. We’ve been selling since about 2018 or 2019.”
Goff works alongside fellow agriculture teachers Michael Paul and Robert Wilder, with Wilder running the program’s Facebook page to advertise weekly offerings. About 450 students are enrolled in agriculture and FFA classes, and every class participates on Fridays.
The produce is grown on about an acre of school property, including raised beds and long rows covered in plastic for strawberries. Lettuce is planted weekly to keep a steady supply, while collards are bundled by the pound, weighed and packaged by students before opening.
“The curriculum requires us to teach everything from plant reproduction to vegetable identification,” Goff said. “This makes it real. They see the whole process from seed to sale.”
Students either rotate through jobs such as harvesting, washing, packaging, restocking, selling or handling money. Some give tours, explaining how strawberries are grown on drip irrigation or how cold snaps are handled.
“I usually do the money,” said eighth grade student Mackenzie Paul. “Math is one of my favorite subjects and I like talking with customers. It makes the day fun.”
Eighth grade student Kayla Ress said she enjoys working with shoppers. “I ask what they’re looking for and guide them,” she said. “I use words like ‘freshly picked’ because it really is.”
For Leah Tatum, the highlight is watching the crops grow. “I love seeing the strawberries go from tiny plants to bright red berries,” she said. “You realize how much preparation goes into it.”
The stand typically draws 20 to 30 customers each week. Students said the produce often sells out before the school day ends.
While the stand isn’t meant to be a major fundraiser, Goff said it reflects the mission of FFA. “We’re educating the public about agriculture, teaching hard work and teamwork and showing students possible careers,” she said. “Our kids love Fridays. They’re over the moon.”
And for customers, the reward is simple: fresh food, straight from the field- sometimes still warm from the sun. Bring cash, because the stand doesn’t accept debit or credit cards.
For more information about the stand, visit its Facebook page at Tomlin FFA Produce Stand.
