Wisconsin Ag Connection - Madison Student Honored for Growing Biggest Cabbage

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Madison Student Honored for Growing Biggest Cabbage
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 04/28/2016

A cabbage weighing over 10 pounds has landed one Madison-area elementary student a lot of money. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture announced that Suzett Hinds Cruz, now a fourth grader from Lincoln Elementary School, is the state winner in the Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program.

Last spring, Bonnie Plants distributed free cabbage plants to more than 14,300 Wisconsin third grade students, who took them home to grow during the summer. Teachers submitted a class winner in fall, and the state winner was randomly selected from these entries. The cabbage plants are the O.S. Cross variety, which is known for producing giant, oversized heads.

"I hope Suzett's excitement for producing her cabbage inspires other students to grow their own food, whether it is in a backyard garden or in a planter on a porch," said State Agriculture Secretary Ben Brancel. "About one in nine people in Wisconsin work in a job related to agriculture so we need more people like Suzett to learn not only about food production but also how to process food into a delicious meal to eat."

Suzett grew her cabbage at home with her father. She planted it in a sunny spot, watered it once a week and weeded around it. After picking her cabbage when it was really big and healthy, her family made stuffed cabbage leaves. She gave the extra cabbage to a family friend.

As the state winner, she received a certificate of achievement and a $1,000 scholarship from Bonnie Plants.

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