REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — During an assembly for Munson Elementary School students, Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels announced Aubrey Fetchik as the 2017 winner of the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program. Fetchik received a $1,000 scholarship for growing a 27.4 pound cabbage as part of the company’s annual nationwide contest. Daniels’ stop in Chardon was part of his travels across the state to celebrate Ohio Agriculture Week, March 12-16.
“I am happy to honor Aubrey Fetchik of Munson Elementary School for growing an impressive cabbage and being named Ohio’s 2017 winner,” said Director Daniels. “We are grateful programs like the Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program exist to get students engaged in the conversation about the importance of growing food and where their food comes from. It’s our hope these conversations spark the idea of a food or agriculture related career in the future for these young students. And by the way, Aubrey said she was excited to grow a bigger cabbage than both of her brothers.”
In 2002, Bonnie Plants started the 3rd Grade Cabbage Program to encourage young people to learn gardening and how to grow vegetables. Each year Bonnie Plants distributes more than 1 million free cabbage plants to students and classrooms all across the nation. Bonnie Plants awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student in each state. Each participating teacher in the state submits a class winner, with the final winner being randomly drawn by each state’s director of agriculture.
Ohio Agriculture Week is celebrated each March to help educate Ohioans about the importance of the state’s $124 billion food and agriculture industry to their everyday lives. Director Daniels made several stops during Ohio Agriculture Week, March 12-16, to honor local farmers and agribusinesses and the tremendous economic impact they have on the state.
— Ohio Department of Agriculture