Hasty Elementary Wins Cherokee Farm To School Golden Shovel Award

CANTON, GA — The Cherokee Farm to School Second Annual Golden Shovel Award was presented this month to Hasty Elementary School Fine Arts Academy and teacher Mollie Guy.

Cherokee Farm to School is a collaboration between the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, local farms and agriculture businesses, and the Cherokee County School District and its School Nutrition program.

The award recognizes a teacher who goes above and beyond in school garden work at his or her school. The winning school receives a raised garden bed from the Cherokee County Farm Bureau, and the honored teacher receives a trophy and a real shovel.

Hasty’s ever-growing garden is used for STEM, writing and art activities, and receives support from the Jr. Beta Club, PTA, and Cherokee High School. The garden’s produce is taste-tested by students at events where they show off their cooking (and math and science skills) and is used in the school cafeteria for menu items and donated to a local food pantry.

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The finalists were: second place, Indian Knoll Elementary School and Holly Springs Elementary School STEM Academy, tied; third place, Clark Creek Elementary School STEM Academy; fourth place, Bascomb Elementary School.

Photo: Mollie Guy, holding the trophy and shovel, and Principal Rodney Larrotta holding a box of donated supplies are congratulated by colleagues and Cherokee Farm to School members. Credit: Cherokee County School District