Specialty Crop

Sunset Elementary School in Cody launched a gardening and culinary program for third, fourth, and fifth graders in 2024, and the program continues to grow, according to Principal Jay McCarten.

“We’re excited to develop a robust program. We want it to be a multi-class project working in collaboration with several local organizations and chefs,” McCarten says. Students will plant crops, including colonial crops, and will then care for the crops, harvest fresh produce, and work with the school’s culinary department and local chefs to prepare colonial recipes. Colonial gardens feature a blend of Old and New World crops, reflecting the origins of European colonists settling in North America, as well as the crops’ adaptation to their new environment.

Leading the new program is Jez Krubeck, a classroom career specialist and computer science teacher at Sunset Elementary. “Jez has a passion for gardening and is doing a great job of growing this program,” McCarten says.

In 2024, a geodesic greenhouse was constructed at the school. University of Wyoming Extension provided materials and oversaw construction. The geodesic dome was constructed in 19 hours, possibly setting a record in Wyoming as the previous known record for a similar project was 21 hours.
The greenhouse project’s purpose going into the new school year was to introduce crops and healthy eating to third graders, planting seeds and caring for plants to fourth graders, and harvesting crops to fifth graders. The school also has several indoor hydroponic growing stations the students utilize.

In addition to using fresh produce in colonial foods prepared at Sunset, the school also hopes to sell produce to community members during open houses and parent-teacher conferences to raise funds to help sustain the program.

McCarten said the geodesic dome project was a team effort involving Sunset Elementary students, parents, and staff; Cody High School students; UW Extension personnel; and members of Cody CAN, short for Changing Attitudes Now, a student-driven program that promotes positive choices and healthy habits.