Garden Plain has become pretty popular over the past few years in thanks to “The Nest”. The Nest opened 11 years ago and has only continued to make great strides from there. Just last week they hosted Senator Roger Marshall as he visited the City of Garden Plain and spoke with Kevin Hammond, Mayor of Garden Plain. Senator Marshall also visited with the senior government class, where he spoke about his beliefs, mission, and principles as a Senator for the state of Kansas. Senator Marshall also talked about his childhood growing up on a farm and his career as a physician. Senator Marshall through his time as a physician has delivered over 5,000 babies. One thing Senator Marshall also stressed was the importance of attending a community college to save money. This event was just one of many recent activities hosted at The Nest. The Nest also has held an event with the City of Garden Plain and Law enforcement from around the state.

As much fun as these events have been, a lot of hard work from the students and staff has been invested over the years. An ongoing battle they face is keeping their prices down. The increasing cost of products they need makes it hard for them to make a profit. Their fro-yo is a prime example of that, being one of their most popular items but doesn’t produce much, if any profit. With rising costs it’s a battle that seems as if it won’t change

anytime soon.

Gina Clark, The Nest facilitator, invests a lot of time into overseeing the success operation, but also training students on how to run the café. Clark works to keep high standards and expectations, something that is a lost skill in today’s world at times. Many times this means Clark makes trips to Sam’s and other such businesses to make sure they have the inventory and products to succeed. Cyndi Dooley, GP Administrative Assistant, is critical in the finance side and making sure all bills are paid and accounts are up-date. Clark says “Without her, there is no way we could do what we do.”

When you enter The Nest you may see new art work on display. Eleven years ago when The Nest opened, Janice Buerki, the art teacher at Garden Plain, gifted them a selection of wooden owl artwork. Since then the marketing team selected student artists who have been coming up with new owl designs for display. They are currently half way done and the refresh has been a great change. These wooden owls are a chance for the students to leave their mark at The Nest for the next generation.

While everybody wishes they had something like “The Nest” at there school and all the benefits it brings, many don’t have a facilitator like Gina Clark who is willing to invest the time behind the scenes that no one knows about. While most small businesses fail within the first three years, The Nest has proven to have someone who has a business centered mind and out-of-the-box approach to success. Thank you to the City of Garden Plain for recognizing the importance of hosting public events at “The Nest”. With school coming to an end make sure you stop by The Nest and use their curbside service!

Click HERE to Order at The Nest!