The Mahomet-Seymour High School Ag Supply Store has partnered with Prairieland Feeds again this year to offer Mahomet residents pet food and bedding at a reasonable price. As the winter months approach, they will also offer salt for sidewalks and porches.
“We are a subsidiary of Prairieland Feeds,” Assistant Manager Andrew Johnson said. “It’s the same product we’re just selling it at a similar price, and you’re also supporting our Ag program with scholarships to us and we’re getting some real world experience.”
The store, which does not make a profit, provides scholarships for students who work in the store. Based on how long a student has worked in the store, they can earn up to $1000 in scholarship money.
After working an entire school year with Prairieland Feeds last year, Ag Supply Store students now have the opportunity to work at Prairieland Feeds after they graduate from MSHS.
This year’s leadership team includes Johnson and Store Manager Gavin Zindars. Johnson and Zindars stepped into leadership roles during the 2014-2015 school year after Senior Megan Myerscough stepped down from the position.
“We wanted to do what we could to come back and teach another class how to run the store,” Johnson said.
This year, the managers are joined by Marketing and Social Media Manager Breanna Bone. Bone, who is interested in making community connections, just wants people to know about the products and events at the Ag Store.
Because Jennifer Wherley, the Ag Business teacher and FFA Advisor, was out on bed rest most of the last school year, the Ag Store will not have a mum sale this fall. Instead, students will focus on raising awareness of the Ag Store by hosting social media campaigns in October and November before gearing up for their holiday wreath sale in December.
When patrons “like” the MSHS Ag Store Facebook page, they will receive $1 off their order in October. For patrons who refer a friend to the Ag Store, they will receive $1 off their order in November.
The MSHS Ag Store and Horticulture greenhouse were initially funded from a Mahomet Seymour School’s Foundation grant 6 years ago.
Being connected to Prairieland Feeds gives the Ag Store the opportunity to offer popular feeds brands such as Purina, Science Diet, Eukanuba, Kaytee and IAMS. Zindars said if a feed is not found in the Ag Store, they can order it from Praireland Feeds.
The Ag Store, located at the back of Mahomet-Seymour High School near the greenhouse, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
