Woodland horticulture programs collect donations, trophies

Woodland — Woodland Middle School received a $5,000 grant from Lowe’s Home Improvement Stores and donations from local businesses to expand the school’s garden and add programs. Also, Woodland High School’s Horticulture Club scored a bunch of awards at the state championships. Joseph Bosch, a science teacher at the middle school, applied for the grant to create a class dedicated to horticulture and the Woodland Middle School Garden Club. In March, students in the horticulture class and garden club updated the school’s community garden, building fences, constructing a storage shed, planting fruit trees, moving compost and updating the hydroponic water delivery system. After hearing about the grant and expanded program, local businesses donated another $5,000 worth of materials. The high school’s Floriculture Team won the 2018 Washington State Floriculture Championship, with team members taking first through third place, fifth place and 20th place. Cooper Kaml finished in first place and will go on to compete at the national competition in October. Jacob Laddusaw was the second-place finisher, Megan Shubert was third, Jennifer Parkhill fifth and Elisabeth Patnode 20th. Mary Ellen received the Outstanding Southwest Washington Agriculture Teacher of the Year Award during the competition.