It all started seven years ago with a raised garden bed that allowed Thea Bowman Leadership Academy students to grow vegetables.
That 4-H project has grown into a farm of sorts. While the vegetable garden remains, students now are taking on a new venture to raise chickens and sell their eggs.
“Every year we try to offer as many projects as we can that relate to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities,” said Lynda Bodie, advisor to the 4-H students and the high school Advanced Business class. “As we got involved in agriculture, I asked who was interested in animals.”
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Many were. Projects in past years have included raising animals – a rabbit, guinea pig, and others for Lake County Fair competition.
This is the second year the high school’s 15-student Advanced Business class has taken responsibility to care for 18 chickens as they developed a business called Eagle’s Nest Farms to sell eggs.
The young entrepreneurs are learning there’s more involved than just scattering chicken feed.
Among the many steps were obtaining a business license, designing egg carton labels and completing paperwork to docoment their work.
Diamond Smith, 18, is the company CEO.
“It’s fun to be part of this, but it’s also hard work,” she said. “It’s not just taking care of the chickens. I had to write a business plan, and it takes a lot of effort keep things running smoothly.”
The customer base for the eggs has been steady and loyal.
Buyers include school staff, administration and community residents. The eggs also are sold to a local store that specializes in local, organic food.
Cindy Wong, Chinese teacher at the high school, was one of the first customers.
“When I was growing up, we had eggs like these, with a brown shell. They remind me of home,” she said. “And we have to support our school. The kids are learning so much about running a small business.”
About 10 dozen eggs are laid each week during peak laying time, according to Bodie. “The students collect them and clean them,” she added. “Then they’re placed in the egg cartons, with the company’s label placed on top, and put in the refrigerator.”
“We sell out as soon as we have them,” she said. “They’re very popular.”
Housed in a large wire cage in the school’s courtyard, the 18 chickens share space with August – the schhol’s lone rooster. He doesn’t really serve any purpose, except to add color to the pack, according to the students.
As with many new business ventures, there are financial concerns regarding securing equipment and materials.
Egg cartons are recycled by the customers of Eagle’s Nest Farm, but more are always welcome, according to Bodie.
The students are asking for small metal cans for a heating unit they are designing for the chicken coop; and since the eggs are being stored in a refrigerator that also is used for other purposes, another working unit could help the company keep its inventory separate.
They may not stop at chickens. Near-future plans for the Advanced Business students include obtaining three goats.
“One of the 4-H families is donating them,” Bodie said. “And this family also offered to build the barn that will house the goats.”
But it won’t be goat’s milk the student-run company will be putting on the market — the procedure to produce it is beyond the scope of a high school project.
“They will be making goat’s soap,” Bodie said. “Our Olympiad Science students made a prototype in their lab and we’re working on the procedure.”
For more information on the fresh eggs or to donate materials, call Lynda Bodie at 219-944-3100.
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