The Colorado State University Horticulture Club raised approximately $1,000 from their peach fundraiser held Sept. 3 to 5, according to club treasurer Jon Sautter.
The funds raised will help send club members to the Mid America Collegiate Horticulture Society (MACHS) located in Fargo, North Dakota, in October.
“We sold 60 preorders of 40 pound boxes,” said Sautter, a horticulture and landscape architecture student. “We used the revenue from the pre-sale to purchase boxes for the campus sale.”
The peaches sold were from Osito Orchard in Hotchkiss, Colorado, and were organically grown by former Colorado State horticulture professor Frank Stonaker.
“People liked that they were organically grown,” said Jordan Callaway, horticulture senior and club historian. “We sold all of them; there wasn’t a bad one.”
In past years’ MACHS competitions, only four or five members out of the approximate 15 members were able to go. This year, with the peach and pumpkin sale funds, they hope the entire club can attend.
The competing club members start preparing for this competition a year in advance and are put into a one-credit class to further equip them to improve last year’s third place standing.
Ari Helland, a member of the club, said he believes the community of CSU should be aware and supportive of the horticulture club and what they are doing for the school.
“We want to help spread the love and plants to students and staff,” Helland said.
In addition to the peach fundraiser, the club will be selling pumpkins on Sept. 16 and 17 outside the Lory Student Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The proceeds will also benefit the club’s trip to MACHS.
Collegian Reporter Zara DeGroot can be reached at news@collegian.com on Twitter @Zaradegroot.
