Bridgeport FFA gears up for annual greenhouse sale

BRIDGEPORT – With well more than 100 students annually involved in its FFA-Ag-shop programs Bridgeport High School is a serious player when it comes to turning out graduates with a solid foundation in horticultural and agricultural skills that will serve them well for the remainder of their lives.
One of instructor Adam Corum’s more successful programs revolves around the annual spring plant sale held in the school’s upgraded greenhouse. The word has gotten around that the annual spring sale is the go-to spot for lush floral hanging baskets and hardy bedding plants. Sale days invariably finds the line forming early and long outside the greenhouse doors as prospective purchasers have learned that they had best arrive early to get in on the best selections.
“All or our plants are grown from seed,” said Corum now in his 10th year at Bridgeport. “We receive out seeds from Ball Seeds.”
Ball, in West Chicago, is North America’s leading wholesale horticultural distributor.
Students begin planting in early January to be ready for the sales that usually occurs around the last week of April to the first week of May. Last year it was held on April 26. This y year Corum is shooting for May 2, the first Saturday in May as the sale target.
Last year, with funds from A Career and Technological Education (CTE) grant from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Corum put some of the $65,000 grant to work replacing the gravel greenhouse floor with concrete.
CTE grants help schools invest in their high-demand tech programs through facilities upgrades, equipment purchases and other essentials.
The FFA programs applies the proceeds from its greenhouse sales to cover such activities as sending delegates to state and national FFA conventions. In 2017 Bridgeport FFA sent a delegation to the National Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. In 2018 it was the state convention in Pullman. Last year the greenhouse dollars helped pay the expenses for six students to attend the 92nd annual National FFA Convention & Expo from Oct. 28-31 in Indianapolis.
The FFA members are active in the North Central Washington Fair in Waterville and in livestock judging. Last year the school’s five-member team placed second among 37 teams from 14 schools at the annual Sunny Okanogan Angus Cattle Judging sponsored by the Cattle Producers of Washington and held annually at the Okanogan Livestock Arena in March.