A garden that keeps on giving; 11-year-old sells own produce, donates some funds to Institute
Published 6:03 am Wednesday, August 31, 2016
- Alex Lenz of St. Ansgar, Iowa, has a business growing and selling his own produce and is donating 10 percent of his proceeds from this summer to The Hormel Institute. Photo provided
By Ashley Harrington
ST. ANSGAR, Iowa — Even though he’s just 11, Alex Lenz’s garden has grown into a business and is even raising money for a good cause.
Alex, who lives in St. Ansgar, Iowa, has sold and grown his own produce from his large garden, and he’s donating 10 percent of his proceeds from this year to The Hormel Institute.
“I chose The Hormel Institute because I wanted to donate my money to cancer because a lot of people have it, as well as one of my mom’s friends,” Alex said.
Alex’s mom, LeAnne, remembers her son having an interest in business even as a young boy.
“When he was really young he said he wanted to own his own McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, maybe even Target,” LeAnne said.
After exposing Alex to different hobbies, it was apparent that gardening was the fit for him.
“I tried different sports and didn’t like them so then my dad suggested a small garden,” Alex said.
“When I tried gardening, I liked it,” Alex added.
Alex Lenz of St. Ansgar, Iowa, has a business growing and selling his own produce and is donating 10 percent of his proceeds from this summer to The Hormel Institute. Photo provided
At just eight years old, Alex decided to share his products through a new business called Alex’s Produce.
From pumpkins to tomatoes, Alex had a whole collection of fresh colorful produce.
“I spend one to three hours in my garden a day depending on what is growing or what work needs to be done,” Alex said.
“It goes on the stand first and if it doesn’t sell, we get to eat it,” LeAnne added.
As Alex grew up, so did his business. Investing and saving the money he made.
As his business began to see success, he bought a garden tractor with his own money to assist him in the garden.
“I bought my garden tractor this spring, sometime in April,” Alex said.
“My first set of keys,” he added.
Now at 11, Alex’s parents influenced him to involve himself even more and to donate some of his earnings to a charity.
Alex’s parents had a simple message for him: “You pick whatever you want, but do your research,” LeAnne said.
This year, Alex has been donating 10 percent of his proceeds to The Hormel Institute. This is the first year Alex has donated to The Hormel Institute and hopes to continue doing so.
“The Hormel Institute has a whole bunch of scientists from around the world who are working to find a cure,” he added.
Alex’s Produce stand can be found at 4701 Kirkwood Ave. in St. Ansgar, Iowa.
