In October 2024, Crookston High School Industrial Tech teacher Travis Oliver and, at the time, agriculture teacher Carolyn Pavlish presented to the school board on a plan to build a greenhouse after receiving a grant from the University of Minnesota Extension. Over the winter, they worked on the plan, and in May, they started construction with help from Neil Benoit, Phil Bertils, Knife River, and the materials were purchased at Crookston Building Center.
One of the students working on the greenhouse is Grant Funk, a junior. "I was part of building all the walls that go up around the building and putting the sheeting on. We have to work as a team. And like I say, safety first at all times," said Funk. "I think it's a really cool situation where it'll be here for years on end. I Just like working with all the guys and just communicating."
Another student working on the greenhouse is Dexter Janek, a senior. "I've bounced around, building all different things. I've nailed in some studs, and I've been working on the thicker studs recently for the supports. But yeah, I've been bouncing around," Janek added. "My favorite part has just been watching it all come together, you know, from nothing. And then a couple weeks, we already got it built up. So that's been pretty cool."
Now that October 2025 is here, the 24-foot-wide and 44-foot-long greenhouse is taking shape thanks to the hard work of volunteers and two Crookston High School Greenhouse Construction classes.
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