By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

WARTRACE, Tenn. — What started out as a simple third-grade plant project turned into nationwide attention-getter.

Jessica Woodard, now a fourth-grader at Cascade Elementary School in Bedford County, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship as the Tennessee state winner of the annual Bonnie Plant Farm Third Grade Cabbage Program. Woodard’s plant tipped the scale at more than 22 pounds. The event was part of the third-grade science project held last spring and sponsored by Bonnie Plant of Union Springs, Ala.

Jessica’s parents, Scott and Christy Woodard, were stunned by the feat and all the attention. And, no – they’re not Master Gardeners.
“My wife grows flowers and I grow vegetables,” Scott said. “Jessica wanted to plant it close to the house and we found a bare spot for the plant. There was really no secret to the growing success, but we did our best to keep bugs off of it, watered it a lot and just left it alone.”

According to Scott, the plant received morning sun only.

“Jessica is a member of the local 4-H club and loves to grow vegetables,” Christy said. “I know she weeded a lot and kept it well-fertilized. This thing attracted a lot of attention for several days and there was a lot of picture-taking. Kids were always asking her about it at school and asking her what she was going to do with the money.

“But, after about two days we cut it up, ate some of it and threw the rest away.”

Jessica’s sister, Samantha, will be in the third grade next year. She’s aiming to eclipse her sister’s feat.

Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens, along with Bonnie Plants representatives Ellis Ingram, Jay Moorer and Albert Wilson, recently presented the scholarship to Woodard in a special assembly of third- and fourth-grade students at the school.

Cascade third-grade participants learned about the love of gardening and the responsibilities of growing food for the table. They were among 85 Tennessee students who took cabbage plants home, learned how to plant, fertilize and care for them until maturity and won class contests for growing the largest plant. A state winner was drawn from that group.

“This program is a wonderful way to get kids interested in agriculture, and it teaches them not only the basics of biology, but the importance of our food and fiber systems as well,” Givens said.
Bonnie Plants distributed cabbage plants in more than 25,000 schools across the country, with more than 1 million cabbage plants being taken home by students.