This Freeport state champion wants to be known for more than just wrestling

FREEPORT — Cadence Diduch, a rising junior at Freeport High School and an Illinois High School Association state wrestling champion, built a self-service produce stand to benefit her community.

“It shows that I’m not just a wrestler,” Diduch said. “I can do other things too. I can be known for more than just being a wrestler."

The self-service produce stand is open for all community members to buy locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs whenever they want. Community members drive up to the stand, select what they want, and pay on an honors system.

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“People can get fresh produce from the garden and they can see that their school is doing it so it can build a sense of community,” Diduch said.

While Cadence lives on a farm where she loves to raise chickens, she first got into agriculture at Freeport High School after taking the Introduction to Urban Agriculture class. There, she decided to become an agriculture teacher in the future.

“I thought it would be cool to show my interest to other kids,” Diduch said about her future career path. “As an ag teacher, I can work in the garden and also in the classroom.”

The produce stand was part of the Agricultural Education High School Internship through Highland Community College. The internship provides high school students with a paid internship to work with a high school agriculture teacher while also receiving college credit.

“She got to learn those unique skills that as an ag teacher you need to do,” said Ben Skipor, Diduch’s agriculture teacher. “It’s the unique aspect of being an ag teacher, so she got a well-rounded experience in the internship.”

To help meet the 75 hours of work experience as part of the internship, Skipor came up with the idea for a produce stand that operates on an honors system.

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“I wanted to think of projects that Cadence could do to push and challenge her, but also things that would benefit our kids and program," Skipor said. "Now, people can not only stop by to purchase fresh locally grown produce, but they can also admire the work that Cadence put into the new stand.”

The self-service stand is available 24/7 in the parking lot next to the Freeport Alternative High School on S. Locust Avenue. You can also purchase products from the student garden every Saturday at the Freeport Farmer’s Market in downtown Freeport.

Jena Kleindl is a freelance correspondent. 

This article originally appeared on Journal Standard: Freeport student wants to be known as more than just a wrestler