Student Gains Hands-On Retail Experience Thanks to Southern States Co-Op Partnership

In farming communities like LaRue County and surrounding areas, the local farm store is the go-to shop. From seed to livestock equipment, companies like Southern States give customers the tools they need to get the job done. LCHS student Chris Robbins recently got to experience what it takes to make Southern States a great place for customers. Robbins participated in a cooperative program between LaRue County Schools and Southern States.

“I enjoy the environment of the people I work with. They are always friendly and ready to go at it whenever it is time to go,” Robbins said of his work location.

LaRue County Schools continues to partner with local businesses to provide opportunities for LaRue County High School students to build experience exploring a particular job/career.

The aim of the co-op experience is to allow students the experience to begin to see the breadth of the work possible for them to engage in. The interest for Southern States co-op participants like Robbins rests largely in agriculture. As with any job, however, Robbins picked up skills outside of his interest in agriculture that he didn’t expect.

“I have learned lots of computer skills that will help me at possibly other jobs I might be interested in,” he said. “Also I have greatly improved on being social and being able to communicate clearly with others.”

These benefits and more are why Southern States Supervisor Clint Merritt said the company joined the co-op. They wanted to provide more opportunities for young men and women interested in pursuing a career in agriculture.

Retail is one of the most popular (and also one of the most thankless) roles in any industry. From handling inventory to dealing with the occasional less-than-happy customer, working in retail teaches people of all ages how to interact with people. Merritt said that retail is an incredible teacher for real-world employment.

“I think everyone should have to work in a retail environment at some point early in their career,” Merritt said. “With that being said, the thing I hope they take with them is the ability to interact with folks from all walks of life. In doing this I hope they learn patience, understanding and develop a somewhat servant attitude about them. These are characteristics that will help them going forward no matter their chosen career path.”