By Shannon Lukens.
The SoRoCo Ag Ed Storefront is open for business. It’s run by the Soroco High School FFA students in Oak Creek, Mondays through Thursdays.
Senior Lexi Vanden Burg says the products are mostly from Routt County, with a few from Moffat County. And the meat is USDA Approved.
“In the SoRoCo Storefront, we sell all locally produced products. We have stuff from Trout Creek Meats, King Mountain Cattle, Snowden Meats, Mountain Meats over in Craig. For our dry section, we have Bee Grateful Caramels, Coffee from Steff, and Lupita’s Hot Sauce.”
Senior Alan Mayer says a steer was donated to the school by an anonymous donor.
“After it was butchered, it was given to us and we processed it. And then after we processed it, we froze everything. Then after we decided what to do, we took out the meat, we thawed it. Then we ground it, seasoned it, and then patty-ed it, and vacuum sealed it. And we have them for sale. They’re $12 a pack. They are half-pound patties.”
The store is in the agriculture education building behind SoRoCo High School. The store has beef, lamb, and some pork, plus other local products like coffee and Lupita’s Hot Sauce. Video from SoRoCo FFA of some of the products
The three most involved with the SoRoCo Ag Ed Storefront are Food Product Interns which is part of the Work-based Learning Program at the school. Here’s senior Rachelle Dudley.
“We work in the kitchen, whether it means processing beef or working in the store front selling things to customers. We’ve also made all the food point lists, and the inventory lists. But the reason we got to be the Food Product Interns is because we’re part of the Work-based Learning Program. The Work-based Learning Program allows students to go out and get hands-on experience in the work force and it’s always a really great opportunity because we have a chance to dual enrollment at CNCC and get college credit and high school credit for the work we are doing in Work-based Learning.”
There is a list online of all of the products available, and the prices, and it is always being updated. Link to products available. Email your order to the FFA Teacher Reece Melton at RMelton@SouthRouttK12.org You can pick up your order between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. every day. The students are working in the store each afternoon from 2-4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
FFA Gear is also available.
The Soroco High School Agricultural Education program has been receiving donations since the first of the year. One is for $12,000 from the Yampa Valley Community Foundation to support the students and the program. Another is $11,000 from the Charlie Kurtz Family Foundation for scholarships and programs. The big one was $150,000 from an anonymous donor in the South Routt community. About 85% of the entire high school in Oak Creek is involved in the local FFA program.