For the Antigo Times

ANTIGO – The Antigo High School grounds are looking a little greener this year.  The student-established garden, constructed and planted in May, is flourishing this summer, and already its yield is proving to be valuable. Over 50 pounds of fresh produce from the raised beds has been donated to the area’s food pantry. The goal of the project was to provide a unifying opportunity for the school’s students – an opportunity that would educate them in the importance of healthy nutritional habits, aid them in discovering their sense of responsibility and teamwork, and encourage them in their community-oriented endeavors.

Alivia Weix, Samantha Schuessler and Lauren Rine pull some weeds.

This spring, students in Mr. Kohn’s agriscience classes and students in Mr. Churchhill’s classes at Antigo High School constructed raised garden beds outside the high school greenhouse. The raised garden beds were made possible through two grants. One grant came via Nikita Deep who wrote a grant and received $2000 from Wisconsin Medical Society. The second grant was written by Samantha Schuessler through the Wisconsin FFA foundation in the amount of $500. A sizeable donation was also made by the congregation of the Antigo United Methodist Church.

Hunger is an issue not only in our community but also worldwide. The best way that students could help was by constructing a garden for use by students to learn how to grow and maintain food crops. Ten beds were constructed in late May and vegetables grown by Antigo FFA members and agriscience students were planted in the beds. The garden beds have been largely maintained this summer by Alivia Weix and Lauren Rine along with some help from Samantha Schuessler and Natalie Cunningham.

Senior agriscience students Abby Warren, Cody LaBay and Elijah Wickersheim cut the lumber for the garden beds.

Lauren Rine, a sophomore agriscience student and FFA reporter stated, “Our community garden is up and rolling and doing great! We have harvested over 50 pounds of vegetables and donated them to our local food pantry. Each week we come in to water, harvest and take the vegetables to the food pantry. It is great community service.”

Natalie Cunningham, a sophomore agriscience student and FFA Greenhouse Manager added, “The students of Antigo High School have been making a difference, not only at our school, but in our community as well. We have built garden beds, planted and maintained the vegetables, and donated the produce to our local food pantry. We have given over 50 pounds of fresh food to people in our community! The community garden is definitely fulfilling FFA’s purpose – “Living to Serve.”