American Enterprise System local crops studied in school

The Odessa High School FBLA chapter has been working with Odessa’s fifth- and eighth-graders on their American Enterprise Project. Chapter members have worked with the younger students to teach them about agriculture and its important role in the American Enterprise System. The students learned that agriculture is much more than just farming; it is an entire industry that affects our local, state and national economy.

Students learned the five principles of the American Enterprise System: the right to own property, the profit motive, consumer sovereignty, freedom of choice and competition. They also learned basic economic concepts like “supply and demand” and “wants vs. needs.”

The students were then given crops grown in Washington state to research. They discovered where the crop is produced, how much is produced and total sales of the commodity. Students then created flow charts showing the production of their crop from the beginning until it reaches the consumer.

Students now have a much better understanding of the how agriculture impacts the American Enterprise System.