Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Bessemer students get lesson in agriculture

By TOM STANKARD

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Bessemer - A.D. Johnston High School students put down their pencils to make jelly Wednesday morning for agricultural science class.

Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District teacher Bob Genisot said people think of big open fields, live stock and corn when hearing the word "agriculture."

Over the years, he said less and less people grow their own food. Genisot said he wants to change that and encouraged about 15 students in class to grow their own garden and use its produce for cooking purposes.

To begin making jelly, a student poured juice through a cheese cloth into a pot and butter was added to reduce the amount of foam.

Students then added Sure-Jell into the mix and added lots of sugar. Genisot and the students used a ladle to put the jelly into jars.

The jars were then placed in hot water. After the hot water bath, the students sampled their creation and said it tasted "good."

Bessemer principal Dan VanderVelden said making jelly teaches students cooking skills that can be used later on in life.

As the school year continues, he said students have been excited about the class. Genisot also teaches his science class in Ontonagon as part of the GOISD.