• 86°
franklin county times

Edible education

Vicky Castillo, Timber Zimmerman and Cheyenne Martin melt chocolate to create chocolate covered pretzels.
Vicky Castillo, Timber Zimmerman and Cheyenne Martin melt chocolate to create chocolate covered pretzels.

Students at Tharptown High School are cooking up something good.

New this year, 4-H Culinary has allowed 4-H students in seventh through 12th grades – about 100 of them – to flex their foodie muscles and learn to prepare delicious dishes. Susan Hill, regional extension agent for food safety and quality, helps to coordinate the program, aided by extension coordinator Katernia Cole-Coffey and 4-H agent Stephanie Crandell.

“We want them to be able to do more hand-on activities,” Cole-Coffey said. Of paramount importance is an attempt to change students’ typical associations with 4-H – namely, that it’s only for people who want to raise cows, chickens, pigs or other livestock. There’s more to 4-H than pre-conceived notions.

“We are to provide hands-on learning for these kids. This is hands-on learning,” Cole-Coffey said.

The culinary program is in its infancy, with this being the inaugural year and 4-H Culinary only being offered at Tharptown. THS is a prime choice for a program like this, Cole-Coffey said, because the school does not have agri-science or family and consumer science programs. “We thought this would be a good way to incorporate home economics,” Cole-Coffey said. They do hope, however, to eventually expand 4-H Culinary into other schools in the county.

The 4-H Culinary program has been held roughly once a month during the 2015-2016 school year. Wednesday, for February’s session, students learned to prepare Valentine’s Day-inspired treats they can make for their families – cucumber sandwiches, mini brownie trifles, chocolate-covered pretzels, chocolate Musketeer dip, strawberry fluff dip with pretzels and bacon cheddar tortilla roll-ups.

Dips and other basic recipes are automatic choices, since Tharptown lacks a full, functioning kitchen – or even an oven or stovetop. Students are mainly assigned dishes that require either no cooking or that can be made using a hot plate, slow cooker or microwave.

“We’re hoping next year, maybe, to have some convection ovens to bring in,” Crandell said.

Of course, students are learning more than “just” cooking with 4-H Culinary. The culinary-focused classes encourage communication and cooperation among the students in each group – a benefit 4-H sponsor Derek Ergle likes to zero in on. “It gives the kids an opportunity to work together as a group to create something they’re not used to creating. It’s a great learning experience, and that’s going to help them in the future,” he said. Following directions, Ergle added, is another skill students are honing through this program.

“It even incorporates math skills – because they have to do fractions – and literacy,” Principal Barry Laster pointed out.

Program coordinators are hopeful that 4-Culinary will open doors for some of these students – like inspiring them to become caterers, restaurant chefs, celebrity chefs, or even just to seek a Cottage Food Law License to be able to sell food items at the local farmer’s market.

“This is just fun,” Hill added. “They don’t even realize they’re learning.”

The next project for 4-H at Tharptown? A student-run greenhouse – coming soon.

Franklin County

Tom Strange: Field is testament to councilman’s dedication

Franklin County

Northwest-Shoals offers Summer Youth Employment Program

News

City of Russellville receives Main Street designation 

Features

Beekeeping is buzzy business

Franklin County

Maj. William Russell: City owes its name to pioneer settler

News

Expect closures for U.S. 43 at Walmart 

Franklin County

RCS, FCS offer seamless summer meal programs

Belgreen

Belgreen FFCLA hosts basketball tournament to help hunger

Franklin County

Phi Theta Kappa inducts honorees from Franklin County at NEMCC

Belgreen

Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

News

PHOTOS: West Elementary enjoys color run

Lifestyles

Strawberry farm offers u-pick fun

News

PHOTOS: RHS Class of 2023 seniors graduate

Belgreen

PHOTOS: Tharptown, Phil Campbell, Belgreen, Vina, Red Bay seniors graduate

Franklin County

Charles Parrish: Superintendent’s love for school system sees stadium named in his honor

High School Sports

Kiel helps obtain funds for TES bleachers 

News

Area residents among those on ICC honors lists

Franklin County

FC chooses new assistant county engineer 

News

Red Bay’s Weatherford Library gears up for summer reading program

News

NW-SCC students to showcase their art at Tennessee Valley Museum of Art

Franklin County

Tharptown High School rocketry team blasts into second place in nation

News

Vina High School holds Spring Spectacular 

News

RES fifth grade chorus presents “RES Goes Country” 

News

Addie’s Flip Tip and Tap holds 18th annual dance recital

x