A partnership between two Mississippi State University alumni and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is bearing fruit under three hoop houses next to Conehatta Elementary School.

For 10 years, Dick Hoy, Class of 1976, and Jim McAdory, Class of 1998 and an MSU Extension agent for the tribe, have been exchanging tips on agriculture and greenhouse operations. This year, they broke ground on the first of at least three school-based farms designed to teach students about gardening and healthier eating.

“If we can get the kids to eat these blueberries, tomatoes and squash instead of junk food, we’ve been successful,” Hoy said. “The opportunity is too good to miss. They’ll learn how plants grow and how they can grow their own fruits and vegetables. I believe that if we can develop their interest in gardening, they’ll want to eat what they grow.”