DECATUR - The tomatoes are a bit pale and the Wandering Jew is still small, but the lettuce is the real problem. It's barely poking its tiny head up through the grow rocks.

"They told me there'd be a learning curve," remarked Randy Bollhorst, a teacher at Milligan Academy.

Bollhorst took his class to visit Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s hydroponics lab and decided to have the students try a smaller version at Milligan, funded by a grant from World to Work. Part of the reason is to open their eyes to career possibilities they might not have considered in the agriculture industry.

World of Work is a cooperative venture of National City Bank, Junior Welfare Association and Partners in Education to show students how the things they learn at school transfer into job skills down the road.

"We decided we were going to try to grow our own," said student Kayla House. "As you can see, they're wilting a little bit."

Instead of planting the tomato, oregano, beans and other plants in dirt, hydroponics uses "grow rocks," little round brown pebbly things that are reusable to boot.

Hydroponics has been in used for hundreds upon hundreds of years. Marco Polo observed it in China. The ancient Aztecs reportedly took to the lakes to avoid their enemies and raised crops on floating rafts using the method.

Modern hydroponics began in the 1930s when Dr. W.E. Gericke at the University of California raised tomatoes on floating rafts. Water and nutrients circulate among the grow rocks and, in the case of Milligan Academy's experiment, the light above the plants comes on at night and goes off during the day.

"It's exactly opposite of the real sun," said Sean Cook, one of the students.

Hydroponics speeds up the growing process, said another student, Melissa Wilderman. And because it's done indoors, plants can be grown year-round.

Bollhorst said at ADM, they can have a head of lettuce ready for market in 32 days.

"From seed to a full head of lettuce," Bollhorst said, holding his hands several inches apart to represent the size of the head of lettuce. "That's amazing."

Milligan GraduationSet

Milligan Academy graduation is 7 p.m. Friday, Elizabeth Madden Auditorium, Decatur Public Library.

Students will receive certificates of completion. This year, one high school senior and eight eighth-graders completed the program.

Several traditions are part of the ceremony. Director Sue Long will read "Oh, the Places You'll Go," by Dr. Seuss.

The "lemonade ceremony," based on the saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," will be held. Students who complete the program receive a certificate, and they make a toast with lemonade.

Academic awards ceremony honors include the $500 Craig Milligan Scholarship, the most improved student award, and many others.

Valerie Wells can be reached at vwells@;herald-review.com or 421-7982.