In Freeman’s school district, a lack of local florist shops opened a unique door of opportunity for agriculture education students. With students already competing in Floriculture Career Development Events (CDEs), ideas began churning to launch a student-run, school-based enterprise. The goal was to provide floral arrangements for students, parents, and community members to purchase throughout the year.
However, storing fresh flowers requires specialized equipment; a regular refrigerator simply won't do. Floral display coolers are essential to maintain the precise temperature and humidity flowers need to thrive without damage. That’s where the FFA Foundation’s Grant Program stepped in, and the Flowers For All business was born.
Flowers For All is a school-based enterprise operated by students from the Freeman FFA Chapter, where they learn hands-on experience of running a floral and plant business. Working as a team, these students—with the guidance of community supporters—are in charge of purchasing materials, setting a budget, pricing arrangements, marketing their products, and providing quality customer service. Through this firsthand experience, they gain vital entrepreneurship and sales skills.
With help from the Nebraska FFA Foundation Chapter Grant Program, along with funding from Farmers Cooperative, the Freeman FFA Chapter was able to purchase their new equipment to address multiple needs.
“The FFA chapter needed a reliable cooler to keep fresh flowers to practice for the floriculture CDEs,” said Tony Jensen, Freeman agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. “The grant project allowed us to purchase two industry-grade floral display coolers, and because of this project, a floriculture class was designed and is now being taught at Freeman High School.”
The new equipment did more than just launch a class and a business—it also allowed students to conduct advanced floral preservation experiments.
Jensen confirms that the addition of the floral coolers has definitely increased motivation for those students in the floriculture class, those in the Flowers For All business, and those in the Floriculture Career Development Events because they get to use quality equipment and tools like those you find in the industry.
“I think it continues to emphasize the importance of exposing students to career skills and providing meaningful hands-on opportunities that make an impact on them now and for their future,” said Jensen. “For students, I think they have learned that entrepreneurship can be fun, rewarding, and challenging.”
