Binghamton Girl Wins $1,000 After Growing Colossal Cabbage

One Binghamton girl has earned quite a bit of green in the form of a one-thousand-dollar scholarship all thanks to the colossal cabbage she grew.

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In 1996, Bonnie Plants launched its 3rd Grade Cabbage program and in 2021, just about 200,000 third graders in 48 of the 50 states not only had the chance to get a hands-on gardening experience but the chance to win a scholarship to put toward their education.

The 2021 Best in State winner in the state of New York State is Heaven Buchanan-Bried of Binghamton. Not only does this means that Heaven has earned bragging rights for the massive 15-pound cabbage she grew, but Bonnie Plants also awarded her a $1,000 scholarship.

Mike Sutterer, President and CEO of Bonnie Plants explained that the program was put on hold in 2020 because of the pandemic but that the company brought it back in 2021 as way for children of all backgrounds and gardening experience to learn the basics of gardening with an opportunity to take home a scholarship at the end.

According to Bonnie Plants, the company sent each interested student their own starter cabbage plant as well as the lessons they would need to care for and grow their cabbage. The company then teamed up with state departments of agriculture to determine each student’s “enthusiasm to participate in addition to the size and overall appearance of their cabbage.”

In a statement, Angela Thomas, Corporate Communications Manager at Bonnie Plants said, “We’re proud of all of this year’s participants and would like to congratulate all of the winners whose hard work is paying off!” We also are proud of all of the students who participated this year, but especially proud of our own Heaven Buchanan-Bried of Binghamton.

If you are an educator and have a student you think would be interested in participating in the 3rd Grade Cabbage Program, you can learn more about the 2022 contest (which is free) by visiting the Bonnie Cabbage Program website.