Owen Kocher transplants seedlings into the hydroponic system.
Owen Kocher, a junior at Richland County High School in Illinois, provided 9 pounds of fresh lettuce to his school cafeteria using hydroponics. Through this project, his goal is to provide fresh produce to not only his school but also to the community.
“It’s important to give back to a community that has given so much to me,” he says.
Kocher became interested in hydroponics when he entered his eighth-grade science fair at St. Joseph Catholic School. “I got the opportunity to research and gain knowledge about this topic before really putting it into action as a high school student,” he says.
System Setup
In a hydroponics system, plants are grown in a water-based nutrient instead of soil. This growing medium is an efficient way to provide food to a growing population. Kocher is learning how to grow food for the future and hopes to pass it on to others in the Olney community.
There are many ways to use hydroponics, but Kocher used the Flex Farm produced by Fork Farms. This starts with two reservoir tanks at the bottom that take water up to the drip lines at the top of the system. The drip lines then carry water and nutrients to the plants. The artificial light gives this system the ability to grow plants fully indoors without access to sunlight.
Kocher (far left) poses with the Richland County High School food service staff after he donated his lettuce for them to use for the week.
Community Involvement
Kocher planted 144 seedlings to maximize plant productivity. In just 35 days, he grew enough lettuce to feed Richland County High School for one week.
“I hope this can be a stepping stone for us to provide fresh produce for the entire school district,” Kocher says.
Research shows that one in five students doesn’t have full-time access to fresh produce or proper nutrition. Through this project, Kocher is helping his community not contribute to that statistic.
Continuing On
“I’ve seen not only the high school but also the city of Olney impact me throughout this FFA journey,” Kocher says. “It’s important that after what I’ve received, I can give back, too.”
With this in mind, Kocher will continue to produce food for his “small town in the middle of a cornfield.” Through hydroponics, determination and community pride, Kocher will continue to provide nutrient-dense food to his community.
After all, if you can dream it, you can do it.
