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Seaman High students showcase growing horticulture program and subscription floral service
Summary
Students and their ag teacher described the high school's horticulutre, floriculture and greenhouse classes, a new plant-subscription offering to staff, and recent plant-sale revenues.
Madison Keenan, one of Seaman High School’s agriculture teachers, and students from the school’s FFA chapter presented the board with an update on the horticulture and floriculture program and recent activities.
The presentation outlined the program’s pathway from an introductory freshman-level agriculture class to two upper-level classes (floriculture and greenhouse), described hands-on learning in propagation and floral design, and highlighted new revenue-generating efforts led by students. “We brought you guys flowers to manage an appreciation for all you do for us,” Keenan said during the presentation.
Student leaders described two program additions this year. Bella White, the chapter president, said students launched a subscription arrangement program for school staff, and that the subscription “started as, like, Miss Keenan sending out an email to our school.” White also provided cost details during Q&A: “A hundred and 20 for the year, and then so sorry. Semester. And then 25 to $30 per week.”
Malia Dowd and other students described the greenhouse and the spring plant sale. Students said the first year’s plant sale returned about $1,000 in profit and the program doubled that the following year to about $2,000. Keenan and students said those returns were from small beginnings — donated starts and a local wholesaler used for paid material — and that the greenhouse now uses a commercial floral cooler to preserve high-quality material.
Students emphasized the program’s experiential benefits: selecting plugs and containers, ordering materials, learning greenhouse pest and damage mitigation, and producing arrangements for events including a recent wedding and the FFA banquet. Keenan and students said the program also aims to expand subscriptions beyond high school staff to include other district schools and community customers.
Board members thanked the students and teacher for the presentation and the flowers and asked a few logistical questions about subscription delivery and plant sale timing. No board action was taken.
Looking ahead, students said they are expanding greenhouse access to multiple classes and grade levels, and Keenan said the program is developing new courses (crop and range class) and hopes to continue growing student participation and community sales.
