(From left) Gervis High School students Rebekah Hobson, Arlette Tapia, and Salma Betancourt

The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) Willamette Chapter Plant Sale raised $6,013 at its annual plant sale, held April 27 and 28 as part of the Oregon AgFest at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem. It is the chapter’s second best year for total sales.

Proceeds of the sale go to four participating event partners: the Gervais High School Future Farmers of America (FFA), the McKay High School (Salem) FFA, the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation School Garden Program, and the chair’s choice of education group. The chair this year was Tucker Ifft of the Gervais FFA Alumni.

(From left) McKay High School students Gerald Hosler, Lillianne Benson Zayne Eads, Kristina Telepenko, Elijah Boardman, Nicole Billington, and Rebekah Major

Plants were donated by several nurseries and augmented by more than 20 annual flowering baskets grown by Chemeketa horticulture students. Students stationed the booth at all times and were paired by volunteer sales staff, to learn firsthand about the plants, their growth habits and their exposure, as well as proper sales and customer service practices. Meanwhile, FFA students were there to deliver plants curbside and help customers load their purchases.

The Willamette Chapter wanted to send a special thanks to the plant donors: Alpha Nursery Inc., Cousin’s Nursery, Heritage Seedlings & Liners Inc., Kraemer’s Nurseries Inc., McKinnon Nursery, Schiedler Family Nursery Inc., Van’s Nursery Inc., Villarreal Nursery, Woodburn Nursery & Azaleas Inc., and Youngblood Nursery Inc..

The event was also made possible with the help of Gervais FFA Alumni volunteers, FFA advisors from Gervais and McKay, Brenda Knobloch of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, and the Willamette Chapter board members. In terms of extra help, Holden Wholesale Growers Inc. and Van’s Nursery provided hand trucks and wagons for the event.