Mountain Springs 3rd Grader Wins Prize with 17.5 Lb Cabbage

A HUGE cabbage has planted money in the pockets of a Mountain Springs Elementary third grader!

John-Micheal Farthing was recently named the 2016-2017 Arkansas winner of the National Bonnie Plants Cabbage Program after growing a 17.5 pound cabbage.

On Thursday, January 18th, in front of his third and fourth grade classmates, Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward presented John-Micheal with a $1,000 savings bond from Bonnie Plants. 

Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward says, “Each year, we enjoy seeing photos of Bonnie Cabbage Program winners from third grade classrooms across the U.S. This program encourages hands-on learning and leaves a lasting impression about agriculture in every student that participates. Agriculture is Arkansas's largest industry and it remains sustainable through engagement with Arkansans like John-Micheal at a young age. We applaud Bonnie Plants, teachers, and parents who make education about agriculture and the food process a priority. Our children are the key to ensuring that agriculture continues to provide the food, fiber, clothing, and shelter that we all depend upon for generations to come, even if it is one cabbage at a time.”

John-Micheal says he knew he was going to grow a champion prize winning cabbage from the very beginning. 

He explains, “When it started to grow, I was like, I can win this because I'm a country boy, so I farm all the time.”

John-Michael says he grew his cabbage on a raised bed and he got a lot of help from Mother Nature.  Wind and lightning made him nervous at times but he was still able to grow his humungous cabbage in just 10-12 weeks. He says he hopes to possibly grow a 20-pounder in the future!

Close to 25,000 third graders across Arkansas competed in the cabbage growing competition.  Bonnie Plants in Lonoke provides all the seedlings.

Congratulations John-Micheal!