Colt's Braden Smith Helps Launch School Farm

Purdue Polytechnic High School at Englewood is taking a unique approach to educate its students. The school has launched an on-campus farm, thanks in part to a $40,000 gift from Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Braden Smith.

"We were really fortunate to partner with Braden Smith and get some work off the ground that we wouldn’t have been able to do," says Shana Cash, Director of Health and wellness for Purdue Polytechnic.

The goal of the farm is to nourish students and cultivate real-world learning experiences. School leaders believe it will also benefit the community.

"When you live in a community you want to see it built up – you don’t want to see it deteriorate – this is something that everyone can get involved in," Smith said.

This summer, Purdue Polytechnic High Schools’ students will participate in the build out and cultivation of the farm through internships. The school plans to use all food grown on the farm to support fresh options in the school cafeteria, with integration assistance from Patachou Foundation.