Bob Hendrickson, IOHT

ISHPEMING — The GINCC had a very successful Business After Hours this past week with Partridge Creek Farm (PCF) at their downtown Ishpeming headquarters. It was exciting to learn of all their new initiatives and success of the past 10 years.

Yes, it has been 10 years since the founding of Partridge Creek Farm started by Dan Perkins as a small community gardening project as a small 501(c)3 organization run by a volunteer board of directors. PCF has grown into a multi-dimensional organization with a full staff of paid employees, AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers and student interns.

One of the newest programs introduced at the event was the announcement of the Agriculture Career Tech Education Program.

This program will teach the skills to develop sustainable locally grown food sources and developing a network to make it happen.

Partridge Creek Farm in partnership with Ishpeming High School, the Marquette Alger Regional Educational Service Agency (MARESA), and Northern Michigan University, is thrilled to announce their recent state approval of this new program to start in Fall 2023.

According to PCF press release, “The CTE program will provide students with opportunities for learning, connection, and a diversity of career pathways in food and related industries.

There is a massive economic need for professionals in food production and this CTE program will prepare Ishpeming students for the future economy in the UP.”

The CTE program will focus on outdoor organic growing techniques at the Partridge Creek Intergenerational Farm which broke ground last fall. It will also support STEM learning through a new indoor hydroponic school growing lab.

Fresh food grown in the program will be sold back to the school cafeteria. May Tsupros, PCF Director and Board President of the National Farm to School Network stated, “Increasing the local produce in our school lunches is a proven way to build healthier youth and increase our local economy. I can’t imagine a better way to engage students in their own futures than allowing them to see their hard work be realized first hand in high school.”

This program will be rolled out with Ishpeming Public Schools, but will not stop there. By partnering with MARESA and NMU the plan for the program is to expand to other school districts and will be a model for local food sourcing.

This is only one of several programs Partridge Creek Farm will be engaging in over the upcoming year.

Others includes the Intergenerational Farm located in Ishpeming near the Jasperlite Senior Housing project along Division Street, maintaining several community garden plots across Ishpeming and the start-up of a farmstand call Nourish that is adjacent to their main office on Main Street, Ishpeming.

To get involved with these or other Partridge Creek Farm projects go to their website at www.partridgecreekfarm.org.

To learn more about the GINCC, visit www.gincc.org or give us a call 906-486-1111. Our hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m,. Monday through Friday and the office is located at 910 U.S. 41 West in front Jubilee Foods & Fuel.

Please call ahead as we are out of office from time to time.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Bob Hendrickson is the executive director of the GINCC. He resides in Negaunee with his wife, Laura, where they raised their daughter, Sierra. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, fishing and hunting along with family time.