Walton County school kids busy with spring gardens

Spring has arrived, and local children are busy with their school garden projects. Everything from planting zinnias to decorating outdoor furniture, to harvesting collards, the children are engaging in the excitement of watching things grow, and seeing the fruits of their labor.
I took a look around at a few of the Walton County schools to see what they were up to, and there is much more than mulch getting spread around!
Here is a look at three local garden projects:

Martha Smith’s 4th grade gardeners
At Freeport Elementary School, there is quite a bit of activity going on in the garden.
Ms. Smith’s 4th grade class was busy painting outdoor furniture, watering and checking on the growth of their new sprouts.
Their planting started early in the year, and to date, have Brussels sprouts, sweet peas, corn, sunflowers and pole beans, all planted from seed. They also have planted potatoes, zinnias and pansies.
The class also has new benches and tables. With the raw materials and fabrication donated by parents, the children decorated the new outdoor furniture by hand-painting pastel flowers on them.


Sandi Miller’s 3rd grade gardeners
At Butler Elementary, the students started planting seeds in February for their spring garden. The class also has a garden...

A Boer goat kid awaiting auction.



Paxton comes alive the first Saturday of the month


As times get leaner, many are looking into finding creative ways to find a bargain. One way to find the real deal, is to take drive to the Rockin S Auction the first Saturday of the month.
Held at the old livestock building on U.S. Hwy 331 in Paxton, the auction comes to life around 8:30 a.m. as a stream of trucks and trailers pour into the site loaded with everything from household items and tools, to goats and chickens, to fresh eggs and preserves.
At any given auction, there are between 1,500- 2,000 transactions, and it gets started promptly at 9:00 a.m., sometimes carrying on to the wee hours of the next morning.
Locals Dale Anderson, wife Tonya, Chris Short and wife Regina started the Rockin S Auction about four years ago. After two years, the Short’s opted out, and the Anderson’s took full reign. Chris continues to assist Dale and Tonya in the auction operation.
Dale Anderson and Henry Alford of Rockin S Auction. Lori Ceier/Walton Outoors
Everyone involved in the auction has full-time jobs, Dale Anderson works for Gulf Power, Tonya runs the Anderson farm, and household, and Chris runs an insulation business in Opp,...