The Louisiana state winner was Sierra Phillips from Walker Elementary in Walker.

Children across America are growing, and some are earning, a lot of “green” participating in the National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program. This year more than 1.5 million third graders in 48 states have gotten hands-on gardening experience growing colossal cabbages with high hopes to win “best in state” and receive a scholarship towards education from Bonnie Plants.

National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program’s Louisiana state winner was Sierra Phillips from Walker. She was randomly selected by the Louisiana Agriculture Department and grew a 9.8 pound cabbage. Phillips will receive a $1,000 saving bond towards education from Bonnie Plants.

Teche Area schools also participated in the program which encourages children to learn about growing healthy plants. Active schools and program administrators include Jeanerette Elementary School, principle Athena Self and teacher advisor Tiana Broussard, St. Charles Elementary School in Jeanerette, principle J.M. Trotter and teacher advisor Sidney Toups, Assembly Christian School, principle Armand Prentiss and teacher advisor Mary Ann, Parks Primary School, principle Bonnie Thibodeaux and teacher advisor Cathy Guidry, St. Martinville Elementary School, principle Charee Theriot and teacher advisor Cristal Caillier.

Each year Bonnie Plants, the largest producer of vegetable and herb plants in North America, with 80 growing facilities across the country, trucks free O.S. Cross, or “oversized,” cabbage plants to third grade classrooms whose teachers have signed up for the program.

If nurtured and cared for, children can cultivate, nurture and grow giant cabbages, some bigger than a basketball, tipping the scales often over 40 pounds.

In 1996 Bonnie Plants initiated the third grade cabbage program in and around headquarters in Union Springs, Alabama. Its mission is to inspire a love of vegetable gardening in young people and help grow the next generation of gardeners. By 2002 the program had grown to become a national endeavor including the 48 contiguous states.

The program awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student in each participating state. At the end of the season, teachers from each class select the student who has grown the best cabbage, based on size and appearance.

A digital image of the cabbage and student is submitted online and that student’s name is then entered in a statewide drawing. State winners are randomly selected by the Commission of Agriculture’s office, in each of 48 participating states.

More information and registration for 2017 is online now at www.bonnieplants.com.