Growing an interest in farming

LISA HOBBS - News Editor

McMinnville Rotary Club is seeking to plant the seeds that might someday grow into the next generation of local farmers.

Club members donated a large greenhouse to Warren County Middle School; a partnership aimed at providing students with hands-on experience and inspiring a love for the industry.

“We applied for and received a district grant,” said Don Alexander, president of McMinnville Rotary Club. “It paid about 50 percent of it. We funded the rest of it through our club.”

The greenhouse cost approximately $13,000.

“We were thinking we need a succession plan here with the nurseries. We have more than 300 nurseries and some of them are aging out. We are going to need to supply some personnel to keep our industries thriving in Warren County. This is one of those things: if you wait until you have to have it, then you waited too late. So, we wanted to get a jump on it,” Alexander said.

McMinnville is recognized as Nursery Capital of the World due to its large number of greenhouses and nurseries in and around Warren County. Local farmers, some with expertise passed down through generations, ship their trees, plants and flowers to customers all over the United States.

When asked if McMinnville Rotary Club plans to provide other schools with greenhouses, Alexander stated, “It’s a possibility.”