By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press
Copperas Cove High School’s FFA and Career and Technical Education programs hosted their latest Farmers Market Saturday morning in the high school cafeteria, bringing student-run businesses and community members together for a morning of entrepreneurship and school spirit.
CTE Director Robert Turner said the market is designed to grow with each installment. The first FFA Farmers Market was held in November.
“This Farmers Market is just an extension from the first one,” Turner said. “The first one was pretty successful for us, so our goal was to try to do this every two to three months. We want to continue to expand.”
Several CTE student-run businesses returned with expanded product lines and expanded equipment.
Bulldawg Ink, the student apparel business, upgraded its equipment and now presses custom T-shirts onsite rather than selling only pre-made designs as they did at the last market.
“They were here last time doing some shirts, but they were all pre-made,” Turner said. “Now they have more designs. They’ve upgraded their equipment, and they’re pressing them here, custom making them by size.”
Bulldawg Barbecue offered sliced brisket, sausage and ribs, along with beef jerky and signature subs. Turner, who sponsors the barbecue club, said the pricing model reflects the program’s commitment to the community.
“We sell sliced brisket by the pound for $16 a pound, where you go to any other restaurant you’re going to pay $28 to $35 a pound,” Turner said. “Why are you doing it so cheap? Our goal is to give back to our community.”
He explained that because students are still learning and practicing their craft, the program chooses to price items affordably.
“Our kids are practicing. They’re learning,” Turner said. “It’s not always going to be perfect. It’s not always going to be super consistent. So, I think that you should be able to get it at a discounted rate.”
That same philosophy applies to the spirit apparel sold at the market via Bulldawg Ink.
“They sell those at a much lower cost because we want to paint the town blue,” Turner said. “We want to put our community members in our spirit apparel.”
Bulldawg Blooms featured fresh floral arrangements created by students, while Bulldawg Metalworkz displayed custom metal signs crafted through the school’s agricultural mechanics program.
Copperas Cove High School’s culinary arts students also showcased their skills at the Bulldawg Brew booth, offering cupcakes, cookies and beverages, including popular “dirty sodas.”
Other student businesses have also evolved. Sparky Sweets, which previously focused on items like potpourri through a family and consumer sciences partnership, has shifted its focus to freeze-dried candy production after acquiring new equipment.
“We did get a new freeze dryer,” Turner said. “I believe that that’s been since the last market, so they’re able to mass produce the freeze-dried candy, which has been a big hit.”
Turner said he has seen growing support from the community and hopes that momentum continues.
“I love that we continue to expand. I love the community support,” he said. “The more that the community is able to support us, the more that we’re going to support our community.”
Ultimately, he said the Farmers Market reflects a larger goal for Copperas Cove ISD.
“Our purpose and our plan is to continue to provide skills to our students and to be able to support our community and kind of build on that school spirit, and just proving that this is the place for our kids to be,” Turner said. “This is the place where our community members would want to partner with Copperas Cove ISD, because we try to make ourselves the school of choice for Central Texas.”
Unlike the previous outdoor market, this event was held indoors due to February weather concerns.
“We did do this one inside. With it being in February, we expected it to be a little colder, and it ended up being a pretty good space,” Turner said. “So, it’s worked out for us to be inside.”
The district is continuing to accept vendor sign-ups for future markets, encouraging community members to set up booths alongside CTE students.
“We had a lot of people say before that they didn’t know about setting up a booth and whatnot,” Turner said. “So again, we want to expand those opportunities and bring more community members in to be able to do it alongside our CTE students.”
Attendance throughout the morning was steady, though Turner admitted he always hopes for an even larger turnout.
“It started off really slow. It’s picked up,” he said. “My expectations are always super high, so I really wish that we could fill this place with all of our community members. It’s been steady. I just wish that there were more people out here, but it doesn’t matter how big it is, I’m always going to wish that there were more people out here.”
Beyond entrepreneurship and skill-building, Turner emphasized that the market’s central purpose is community support.
“Our biggest goal has been to give back to the community with what we’re doing with this,” he said.
For more information on the next event, readers can follow the CCISD Career & Technical Education Facebook page for updates.
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