Marion schools take part in test market
Staff reporter
Marion High School and Marion Middle School have been chosen to participate in a test market for milk and milk products.
Mark Meyer, high school vocational-agriculture teacher and Future Farmers of America (FFA) sponsor, said that the high school and middle school are two of nine Kansas schools chosen.
"The Midwest Dairy Council wanted to conduct a study with smaller schools," said Meyer. "They know the larger schools are profitable but they wanted to see if money could be made in the smaller ones."
The council wanted schools with 225 to 400 students and in a dairy producing area.
FFA agreed to sponsor the project by purchasing a dairy product vending machine for $3,500 over a three-year period with the first payment due next year.
"This gives us a year to see if we're going to make money," said Meyer. "If we don't make enough to cover the expense, we'll have them come and get it."
The vending machine offers bottles of whole and two percent milk, strawberry, chocolate, and orange cream flavored milk, two flavors of Go-Gurt (yogurt in a squeeze packet), and string cheese.
There are two other vending machines in the cafeteria — water and Gatorade. The cafeteria also provides milk and Go-Gurt to students at lunch but Meyer wanted to give this project a try.
Meyer sees this as a teaching tool for the 30 members of FFA.
"This is a business venture," said Meyer. "Students are responsible for stocking it, keeping track of the sales and expenses, and determining profits and losses."
FFA also has a committee in charge of promoting the machine.
Becky Tharp, a senior and FFA president, said that it's a good program.
"Kids need to support it more," said Tharp. Chocolate milk is the best seller.
Meyers appreciates the assistance from the school cafeteria.
"They have been a tremendous help," Meyer said.
Meyer and the organization plan a promotion where students can win free prizes by buying the products. He is hoping this will encourage students to purchase the health products.
"We need to promote healthy alternatives as much as possible," Meyer said.
