If you’re planning to shop the Cortez Saturday and Evening Farmers Markets and happen upon the Montezuma School to Farm booth, you may notice a few baby-faced sales people.

Nine middle school students are spending a few weeks of their summer learning the ins-and-outs of farming and production, thanks to the four-week Youth Farmers Market Apprentice Program.

Cortez Middle School Farm production coordinator Danyel Mezzanatto explained that participants’ responsibilities include getting their hands dirty tending an acre of row crops; crunching numbers and creating budgets; setting prices for the markets; and scheduling the plantings and harvests in between.

The money students make at the farmers market will go toward $100 stipends that each student receives upon completion of the program. The stipend makes it feel more like a first-summer job for the students and has really incentivized participation.

“So far they’ve been really excited,” said Mezzanatto.

The program gives students the opportunity to develop technical skills and people skills, while fostering critical thinking and a sense of work ethic.

Cortez Middle School seventh-grader Brendan Gray and eighth-grader Terryl Boo manned the Evening Market booth on July 7. The pair said they’re enjoying the program so far, and have enjoyed “selling stuff” the most.

“(The first market) went pretty good; we got almost $89,” said Gray.

Stacy Armbruster, Americorp service member through Serve Colorado, is assisting Mezzanatto with the program and says a variety of goods available at the next four markets should increase as production ramps up.

“We’ll definitely have potatoes, greens, beets. Later in the month, we’ll have tomatoes, radishes,” said Armbruster.

The group is also coordinating with food service director Sandy Van Houten of Montezuma-Cortez Schools to help supply unique veggies – think purple carrots and chioggia beets – to supplement the fresh produce she gets from local farms.

“We also do taste tests, so that when they see them in the garden, they can recognize them in the cafeteria,” said Mezzanatto.

While the apprentice program is only four weeks long, Mezzanatto and Armbruster hope it sparks a love of gardening and sustainable food production in the students that lasts much longer.

“Our hope is that these students choose to be in the Ag elective next year, be advocates for the garden and really help spread enthusiasm,” said Mezzanatto.