Photo and story by Sharon Kegerreis
Regionally-grown popcorn and homemade baked goods will be sold at the Chelsea Farmers Market on May 26 to support a 24-year Chelsea tradition – the Chelsea-Shimizu Sister Cities Student Exchange Program.
Seven Beach Middle School eighth graders and two chaperones will embark on a 10-day cultural experience to Japan on June 19.
The students will sell Amaizin’ Pop popcorn donated by Charles Sing, grandfather of an exchange student and baked goods.
The exchange students include Brandon Emmert, Makayla Kegerreis, Caden Knight, Maggie Olaveson, Evan Sing, Kendall Spink and Katie Wickman. Chaperones are Beach Middle School teachers Corey Knight and Susanna Miller. The seven students traveling to Japan are upholding a Chelsea tradition to visit the city’s sister city, Shimizu, in the Hokkaido region. They will visit Hiroshima, temples, gardens and a school, as well as participate in a traditional tea ceremony.
In addition to a yellow hybrid, a red kernel hybrid developed by a friend in Idaho will be offered for sale. All money raised from the popcorn sales at the Chelsea Farmers Market will benefit the students’ travel.
Popcorn will be sold for $ 7 a container or $12 for two containers.
For more information about the program, please visit www.Chelsea-shimizu.org.
