This spring, something powerful started growing at Purdue Polytechnic High School at Englewood—a half-acre campus farm, led in partnership with A Longer Table (formerly The Patachou Foundation) and rooted in student leadership, food education, and real community impact.

The project began in April, when Indianapolis Colts lineman Braden Smith contributed a generous donation to help launch the farm. He joined students, families, and volunteers for a full-day build, laying compost, constructing raised beds, and preparing the land for planting (WTHR).

From there, our agriculture-focused satellite cohort of Food Fellows stepped in. These high school students, part of A Longer Table’s paid workforce development program, helped bring the farm to life—planting crops, maintaining the space, and learning what it means to grow food in an urban school setting. Their work was hands-on and high-impact, blending teamwork, food systems knowledge, and purpose.

As part of their experience, Fellows earned college credit through Ivy Tech Community College by enrolling in AGRI 176: Urban Food & Agriculture. For many, this was their first exposure to college coursework. Earning credit matters—it builds confidence, affirms students’ place in higher education, and strengthens pathways to future careers in food and sustainability.

This farm is more than a one-time project. Thanks to this partnership, Purdue Polytechnic was also able to hire a School Farm Manager, ensuring the space will thrive year-round as a learning lab, a food access point, and a hub for student engagement.

And the impact doesn’t stop in the garden.

Through our Next Course Cafeterias (formerly PataSchool) initiative, we already partner with PPHS to offer fresh, thoughtfully prepared meals to every student. Plans are in motion to bring student-grown produce to both the school and surrounding community—modeling what’s possible when schools invest in real food and youth leadership.

What This Makes Possible

This partnership between A Longer Table, Purdue Polytechnic, Ivy Tech, and Braden Smith is more than a new farm. It’s a new way forward.

• A permanent school-based farm: With a dedicated School Farm Manager and institutional support, the farm is here to stay—growing food, learning, and opportunity.

• Hands-on urban agriculture training: Fellows gained real-world experience in sustainable farming, land stewardship, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Early college access: Students earned college credit while building technical knowledge and exploring future careers.

• Stronger school food systems: The farm lays the foundation for a school-based grow-to-serve model, connecting the cafeteria to the garden and students to their meals.

• Workforce development that centers youth: The Food Fellowship prepares students for meaningful work in food, agriculture, and beyond—reaffirming their leadership.

We’re grateful to Purdue Polytechnic High School, Ivy Tech Community College, and Braden Smith for helping launch this work. This partnership is building something lasting—rooted in education, access, and youth leadership.