Moving from McPherson, Kansas to West Liberty, Kayla Stultz found her niche at West Liberty High School when the junior asked FFA Advisor Zach Morris if she could be the new greenhouse manager.
With some big shoes to fill in taking over for national award winner Lindsey Laughlin, who graduated, Stultz jumped right in just a year after moving to her new school district, pointing out she was simply “super interested” in running the greenhouse, being part of a “huge family garden” when she was growing up with her family two states away.
“My parents had a big garden,” she said, noting growing vegetables and flowers was a natural, but says she’s also learning a lot being the new manager over dozens of fellow FFA students and hundreds of annual flower and vegetable plants.
“I’ve come across some struggles. You learn along the way,” she said, nearly losing some plants in the early going because of lack of watering. “We’ve made a few mistakes, almost losing some plants, but we’ve figured it out,” Stultz said, noting it’s all about “finding a happy medium.”
She said having to manage other students has been an experience and says she enjoys teaching students how to care for plants.
Morris said he selected Stultz for the position because of her interest in growing plants, calling her “very responsible and willing to make the time commitment.”
The FFA sale, which is the biggest fundraiser of the organization, begins Thursday and Friday, May 5-6, with the greenhouse open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. for grower selections as well as Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The greenhouse is located in the agricultural center, located behind the high school.
The plant sale, which includes hanging baskets, will continue on Monday through Wednesday, May 9-11, with hours from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Items can also be bought on line through the high school’s web site.