Imagine a nomad traveling through the Saraha on camelback. The sun is beating down on them relentlessly, and the mirages of sought-after water appear to be laughing at their misfortune. There’s a broad, dry sea of sand and dust that seems to stretch for miles upon miles. As the nomad gazes out at the empty arid landscape, they’re filled with a sense of hopelessness at their barren surroundings. 

 Even though Stockbridge residents aren’t donned in turbans nor ride on camelback, the residents of this small farming community still feel the same sense of hopelessness when they drive half an hour to bring back fresh food for their families.

7th-grade agricultural student Isabella Quinn feels like her fresh food options are running out. “Sometimes pesticides are used on products in the stores, but it’s really the only option we have,” Quinn said. 

Although it’s a farming town, Stockbridge is commonly known as a “food desert.” According to the USDA, food deserts are typically defined as areas of low-income where individuals don’t have access to affordable, healthful foods. Though typically urban, food deserts can be found in rural areas as well. 

Though librarian Debrielle Lopez enjoys getting out, she dislikes having to drive a half an hour to a grocery store. “I live in Gregory and opt to go out to Meijer, which is 30 minutes away. But if I need something trivial or last minute, I have to go to Busch’s, but I’m going to spend way more money at Busch’s,” Lopez said. 

To challenge their circumstances and offer their community a better solution, Stockbridge FFA took it upon themselves to construct a Hoop House in order to provide fresh foods to their cafeteria’s salad bar. They were assisted by Ann Arbor based Hoop House company, NiftyHoops. 

Robert Richards, agriculture teacher and Stockbridge FFA’s advisor, recognizes the impact that this Hoop House will have, “our intent is to grow crops for the school salad bar…you’ll have fresh produce for the salad bar, as opposed to purchasing it from wholesalers that bring it in from California or Florida,” Richards said. 

Stockbridge FFA will grow a variety of vegetables in their Hoop House such as radishes, snap peas, and bok choy among others. NiftyHoops Director of Operations, Tomm Becker, has been building Hoop Houses professionally for 5 years all over the country. He and his team construct Hoop Houses for home gardens, schools, and professional growers. Becker believes that this program will be a success. 

“We want to have a science curriculum and be involved in working with living things. With a Hoop House like this we can continue to grow cold, hardy greens and herbs all the way through the winter,” Becker said.

Even though this project is occurring now, the ache for fresh food was needed nearly 50 years ago. “The original plans for this building from 1976 had a greenhouse up off Ms. Doering’s room, which never ended up happening,” Richards said. “So here we are, 50 years later, we finally got a greenhouse.”

Due to a lack of funding, the 1976 greenhouse never came to fruition. Now, armed with the power of a 61-S educational grant, the Stockbridge FFA knew they could be the change in their community. 

Eighth-grader Kipp Vogel is new to the agriculture program, but already recognizes its impacts. “I think it’ll be pretty useful for growing stuff in this research class,” Vogel said. 

Even though the Stockbridge FFA donated over 80 pounds of surplus vegetables and 116+ eggs to their local food bank during the 2023-2024 school year, the Stockbridge FFA wanted to follow their mantra straight out of the FFA Creed: “[I believe] in the promise of better days through better ways” and continue to help their community. 

Stockbridge FFA student teacher and former Michigan FFA state officer, Marissa Petiprin Ball, is certainly familiar with the FFA creed, but even she can see just how unique this program is. “I came to Stockbridge on a total chance, and instantly fell in love with the program,” Ball said. “I’ve never seen a program like this.”

Even though they were underestimated, Stockbridge FFA completed the Hoop House in a mere day.

“A lot of people didn’t think we’d finish it in a day, let alone at all,” Richards said.