The Upperman FFA plant sale providing students with hands-on experience in managing a commercial greenhouse and developing professional business skills.
Upperman High School Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor Wes Shanks oversees the program, which utilizes a 42-foot-by-42-foot greenhouse on the school campus. The initiative allows students in the plant science pathway to transition from classroom theory to the practical responsibilities of maintaining inventory and serving the public.
“From my perspective, we’re trying to get students business-ready, greenhouse-ready,” Shanks said. “And so we kind of place roles on individual students, such as business managers or quality control and operations.”
Shanks said the curriculum begins with agriscience for freshmen before moving into horticulture and greenhouse management for upperclassmen. Students are organized into crews and given specific titles to manage the facility throughout the fall and spring semesters.
“The kids just like the project-based work, and they really thrive once you give them some instruction,” Shanks said. “They may not see the effects of planting that seed in early February, but then late February, early March when it’s germinated, when the flowers are about to bloom, then they kind of… you see the light in their eyes.”
The program incorporates various scientific disciplines into the physical labor of the greenhouse. Shanks said students study soil science, chemistry, and nutritional values, including the balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium required for plant growth.
“They feel the appreciation and the responsibility of growing that plant,” Shanks said. “And we do, gosh, we’ve got probably 800-plus individual plants that we’ve planted this spring, so you know each student has had their hands on with that entire inventory that we have.”
Planning for the annual sale begins months in advance as students and advisors determine which varieties will meet community demand. Shanks said he consults with industry partners and local nurseries in McMinnville and Smithville to select popular annuals, perennials, and vegetables.
“We’ve got a pretty good inflow of finances come in that’s going to be sustainable for this program and that spring plant sale,” Shanks said. “Luckily here at UHS, we’ve got a program that takes in money from this spring plant sale and we take all of that money and we will put that back into play in our ’26-’27 school year too.”
The sale features a wide inventory including Boston ferns, begonia baskets, petunias, and various foliage. Shanks said the selection also includes vegetable starts such as hot peppers, bell peppers, and several varieties of tomatoes.
“The students are, you know, sharing information, the community members coming in, the purchasers are asking questions,” Shanks said. “They’ve got to have interactions, they’ve got to have those soft skills. So that’s step one: the young adolescents kind of maturing up and growing into a business industry or just the soft skills aspect of it.”
Shanks said agricultural education is evolving to include modern technologies like hydroponics to prepare students for a changing industry. He said the program aims to show students that agriculture provides essential resources while offering viable career paths after graduation.
“Our student members wearing the blue corduroy jacket put a lot of effort into and it’s just something that we have a little pride for down here in Baxter and we’re appreciative of the support and you guys spreading the good news for us,” Shanks said.
The greenhouse sale continues Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through May 24, with remaining Saturday hours scheduled for May 18 and May 25 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
