USA: Indiana High School Takes Their Hydroponics System Up a Notch Thanks to USDA Grant

Tyler Hill

October 2, 2026

LEOPOLD, In. (WEHT) -- An Indiana school has been growing lettuce using hydroponics, and it's been a hit with salad lovers of all ages. But now a new grant is helping them take their operation to the next level.

Perry Central High School got almost 300-thousand dollars from the USDA to put up this building. A new climate-controlled hydroponics room. One that students and faculty say will allow them to do more than they ever could have imagined.

"I never thought I would be growing plants out of plastic containers, but it's really something neat to learn about and get to do," said Perry Central Agriculture Teacher Carrie Guillaume.

Guillaume helped oversee the hydroponics system in its infancy.

"The company Grow Anu, we had partnered with the towers inside the entryway of the CTE building," said Guillaume.

Slowly but surely, they kept expanding — producing about 50 heads of lettuce each week.

"Our biggest thing is lettuce for the cafeteria, along with lettuce for local businesses. We have started partnering with them to get them some lettuce," said Senior Payton Park.

Park says she loves being able to get out of the classroom and get her hands dirty.

"I'm much more of a hands-on learning person. I learn a lot more when I'm able to actually do the things hands-on, instead of just reading it all in a textbook and looking at it," said Park.

Now the operation is expanding. Perry Central is adding a climate-controlled hydroponics room -- thanks to almost 300-thousand dollars from the USDA

"It will be all year long growing in the greenhouse. We can't grow in the summertime. It gets way too hot, and in there we can grow even when it's 20 degrees outside. Or if it's 120 degrees outside, that's the same temperature," said Guillaume.

Not only will students have more time -- they'll also have more diversity in what they can grow.

"I'm just really excited about all of the different varieties that we're going to get to see, and how everything is going to already be. All the nutrients are already customized for every single thing, and it'll be exciting to see how much it yields," said Senior Eva Decker.