Third grade students at Four Oaks Elementary school had an opportunity to participate in a gardening project sponsored by Bonnie Plants.

Students were given a cabbage plant to take home and grow in the garden. Instructions were also given stating how to care for the cabbage and to enter it in the state contest.

Third grade student, Cory Roberts, has taken great pride in his cabbage that weighed in at 16 lbs. The cabbage was planted in early March and harvested May 31. Cory is the class winner from Mrs. April Smith's class and will be entered into the state competition.

A $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to one winner in the state. Cory shared his secrets with the class stating that he used fertilizer and Seven Dust to keep bugs away and also watered it daily. Cory also had an uninvited guest that wanted to take part in the cabbage party, so he built a small fence around his prize cabbage to keep the rabbit away. When the weather turned gray and stormy, Cory would cover the fence with a sheet to prevent damage from hail and heavy rain. Once the cabbage was harvested, the family cooked and ate it. Cory's mom, Tracy, said that despite the size of the cabbage, it was very good and tasted like any other cabbage normally would. Cory is the son of Richard and Tracy Roberts.