After the construction of Jackson Electric's new building in 2008, approximately eight acres of sandy, not very fertile, land sat idle. In the spring of 2009, the initial conversation to utilize the land began with the Black River Falls FFA Chapter. In 2009, the FFA students presented a business plan to Jackson Electric which included the creation of a test plot. They also included an exit strategy in the event the FFA chapter couldn't fulfill their obligation to the cooperative.
At that time, with the help of three other local cooperatives, the students learned everything from preparing the land for planting to marketing their product and finally analyzing their results. Every year since conception, interest in the test plot has gained momentum.
Each year, the FFA invite the school's fourth grade students to the test plot for their Food for America program. Young students learn about production agriculture and Jackson Electric teaches these students about electrical safety.
