CHAPIN, S.C. — For some people the holidays are not complete without a poinsettia.
Lexington Richland District 5 students at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies started their annual poinsettia sale today just in time for the holidays.
With a purchase of one of these flowers, customers can decorate and support students at the same time.
Wrapping, tying, putting a bow on a plant that is synonymous with Christmas.
Students like Brooke Alcorn have called the school's greenhouse home since August when students began planting bright red, pink and white poinsettias.
“The community has done so much for our FFA [ Future Farmers of America] program and has done so much for us as a whole and I think it’s so good to give back to them as a thank you for what they’ve done for us,” Alcorn said.
Alcorn is one of the many students in the school's Agricultural Education Program.
Will Amick is an FFA alumni and is now supporting students who are getting their hands dirty today.
“It’s something that I remember through my school and it really helped me grow as business and personally to do well in life,” he said.
Kevin Sox is a teacher at the center and has been helping students with this project.
“it's a very hands-on, real world curriculum. it’s not just theory and talking about it. it’s actually doing it and so my kids really like it,” he said.
“it’s really great for the community to come in and see what we’re teaching here and see that we are doing great things and really kids can learn through different methods. it doesn’t just have to be in a classroom from a book,” Sox said.
Money from the sales help to fund the center's FFA chapter and allows them to participate in different trips and activities throughout the year.
“The funds from it really help us be able to do those things and the kids to be able to do those things at no cost to them and so I hope to sell all these plants. This is only our first day and we’re probably already two thirds of the way sold out and so if we sell out we’ll be able to use all those funds to go back to the kids and go back to our program,” Sox said.
Poinsettias are now on sale at The Center's greenhouse in Chapin.
Smaller flowers are being sold for $15 while the bigger ones are $25.
Customers can visit the greenhouse from 9am-5pm this week until all plants are sold.