MOUNT GREENWOOD — A group of 23 high school students from Chicago toured a pair of companies that showcased careers in agriculture last week.
Eight students from the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences in Mount Greenwood were joined on the Oct. 7 tour by eight students from the Chicago Vocational Career Academy in Avalon Park and seven students from John Marshall High School in Garfield Park.
The students first visited Ball Horticultural Co. in West Chicago. Employees of the family-owned company started by George J. Ball in 1905 led the tours.
The workers explained careers related to the research, breeding, production and marketing of ornamental crops. Students observed the seed pelleting, counting and packaging process, as well as the company's lush garden displays.
Then, the students visited FONA International in Geneva, which creates and manufactures flavors for many of the largest food, beverage and pharmaceutical companies in the world.
Participants were introduced to employees with titles such as food scientist, flavorist and chemist. Katie Sudler, FONA's community education director, walked students through flavoring demonstrations, gave a lab tour and offered an overview of careers in the industry.
The Cook County Farm Bureau Foundation hosted and funded the trip through its Agriculture Leadership Academy program, the goal of which is to introduce students to careers related to agriculture.
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