Purdue Polytechnic High School at Englewood unveiled an on-campus farm on April 11, supported by Indianapolis Colts lineman Braden Smith and community volunteers, to bolster student nutrition and hands-on learning.
The project, partly funded by a $40,000 personal donation from Smith, aims to address food access while integrating agriculture into STEM education.
Located at 2801 Moore Ave., the farm sits on a half-acre lot near the school’s main building.
Dozens of volunteers gathered at the school’s downtown campus to build garden beds, spread compost and prepare the site for spring planting.
Smith joined students and neighbors during the two-hour Farm Service Day, emphasizing the farm’s role in uniting Indianapolis.
“It is an amazing way to bring a community together,” Smith said.
Purdue Polytechnic’s network, which opened in 2017, operates four Indiana campuses prioritizing project-based STEM curricula. Its Englewood location serves students regardless of academic background, with pathways to Purdue University.
The Colts lineman believes, “Everyone should have access to healthy food.”
Smith, a Colts lineman since 2018, has supported multiple Indianapolis food initiatives. His involvement reflects a broader trend of athletes investing in urban agriculture.
The farm grows produce for school meals while offering internships in food production and land stewardship this summer.
Farm-to-Cafeteria
Chief executive officer of Purdue Polytechnic High Schools Keeanna Warren said fresh meals directly impact learning.
“When (students) have it, they learn better,” Warren said. “Farm-to-cafeteria is part of our commitment to supporting the whole student.”
The Patachou Foundation, a nonprofit combating food insecurity, will assist with meal integration and career training.
The foundation’s partnership with the school includes scratch-made cafeteria meals and teen job readiness programs. All harvests will supply the school’s kitchen, reducing reliance on external food sources.
A USDA Farm to School grant covered 38% of the farm’s startup costs, with the remainder funded privately.
The school stressed that USDA endorsement was not implied.
The farm expands existing partnerships, including one with The Patachou Foundation launched in 2023.
The farm’s launch aligns with Purdue Polytechnic’s focus on real-world skills. Warren believes the space will “cultivate experiences beyond textbooks,” citing agriculture’s ties to science, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Officials anticipate its first harvest by late July 2025.
Contact Multi-Media & Senior Sports Reporter Noral Parham at 317-762-7846. Follow him on X @3Noral. Follow him on TikTok @3Noral. For more news from the Indianapolis Recorder, click here.
Noral Parham is the multi-media & senior sports reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder, one of the oldest Black publications in the country. Parham has worked with various leagues to provide a diverse perspective in sports, including the Big Ten, Big East, IHSAA, IndyCar, MLB, NHRA, NFL, NBA, WNBA, WWE and the Olympics. Prior to joining the Recorder, Parham served as the community advocate of the MLK Center in Indianapolis and senior copywriter for an e-commerce and marketing firm in Denver.
