Barhorst
JACKSON CENTER — A freshman at Jackson Center High School will be able to grow his maple syrup business thanks to a grant from Bob Evans Restaurants.
Kale Barhorst, son of Chris and Amanda Barhorst, will receive a $1,000 grant from the restaurant.
“I applied for this grant to better allow me to expand my maple syrup business and give me the needed resources to become more efficient in my makings,” said Barhorst. “I started making syrup last year to try something new and see how I liked it.”
Barhorst said he didn’t sell much maple syrup last year because his resources were limited.
“I plan to make a larger quantity this year and sell it locally to those I know,” he said. “Last year I collected about 40 gallons of maple sap which produced about 1 gallon of syrup.”
Both his mom and dad helped him with anything he needed to make his syrup.
“This grant will be used to get supplies to help me become more efficient in my maple syrup making and ultimately lead to a larger profit in my business,” said Barhorst.
Bob Evans Restaurants presented their 2024 Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) Grants to 12 high school students from across the Midwest. The Bob Evans SAE Grants are made available through its longstanding partnership with the National FFA Organization. Bob Evans – the home of “America’s Farm Fresh” – aims to inspire and aid future farmers, and pay homage to founder and farmer, Bob Evans. The 2024 Bob Evans SAE Grant program will continue to provide high school FFA members with the opportunity to advance the farming community with special agricultural projects and experiences.
Each experiential learning project helps students learn more about agriculture, marketing, and running a business – all essential skills for those looking to be successful in the modern farming industry. All 12 Bob Evans grant recipients will receive $1,000 to help achieve goals outlined in their SAE Grant application. For example, the grant recipients will use the funds provided by Bob Evans to do things ranging from building hydroponic gardens and greenhouses to growing fruit and vegetable farms to improving production of flowers, greenery and even fresh-made jams and sauces. This year, grant recipients are leaning into creating new opportunities for fresh produce sales in their cities and states, which will benefit both their communities and families looking for affordable, fresh products.
“At the beginning of every year, we look forward to announcing our SAE Grant recipients and empowering future generations of farmers,” said Bob Holtcamp, president and CMO for Bob Evans Restaurants. “Having the opportunity to watch each of the 12 innovative projects from these students grow to new heights and positively affect the farming community is an act we hold close to our hearts. As the home of ‘America’s Farm Fresh,’ this program allows us to expand farm fresh food in local communities across America – an act that would make our founder, Bob Evans, proud to this day.”
The Bob Evans 2024 SAE Grant recipients were selected from more than 1,200 applications nationwide.
To raise funds for 2025 SAE Grants, Bob Evans will hold its annual “Egg Crack, Give Back” fundraiser on Feb. 22, 2024. This is also Give FFA Day, an annual celebration that takes place each year during National FFA Week (Feb.17-24). For every Farmer’s Choice Breakfast sold on Feb. 22, Bob Evans will donate $1 to FFA up to $15,000. More information will be released later on how to participate at a local Bob Evans restaurant.
For more information on Bob Evan’s commitment to FFA, visit BobEvans.com/FFA. For more information about FFA, visit www.FFA.org.
