Alex Strickland/Bigfork Eagle

The winning class poses in the BHS gym last week in front of the almost 7,000 pounds of food that students donated to the food pantry. The honors history class includes,(top left) Ariana Shults, Beka Bell, Zac Brewer, Scott Taylor, Travis Piedermann, (bottom left) Caitlann O'Dell, Kodie Kunsmen, Jennifer Wirth, Laura Colvin, AnnMarie Losee and Mr. Archibald (standing).

Students gather almost 7,000 pounds of food

By ALEX STRICKLAND

Bigfork Eagle

When Ryan Archibald arrived at Bigfork High School this fall to teach social studies, his junior honors history class had an old-fashioned sit down with him on the second day of school.

"It was the first thing they talked about," he said. "On the second day of school they said, 'We need to talk about the canned food drive.'"

They taught their new teacher well. Archibald's class won this year's canned food drive competition — a loosely organized contest between first period classes — with 3,122 cans.

For their efforts, the class, as well as the two runners-up, receive a pizza party and the distinction that comes with victory. The same group of students took the prize last year in their sophomore honors history class.

In total, BHS students donated 6,811 pounds of food, according to Sue Stuber of the Bigfork Food Pantry.

"I'm overwhelmed," she said. "We're bursting at the seams."

Archibald's class used all kinds of methods for garnering the grub, including Trick or Treating for cans, not candy.

Student council representatives who organized the contest said a new rule was put in place this year concerning Ramen noodles in an effort to deter a glut of the college-student staple.

Three packets of the noodles would count for one can, lessening the cost-benefit ratio of the ultra-cheap packets.

When asked how they managed to emerge with victory for a the second straight year, student Jennifer Wirth said simply, "Because we're winners." Her classmates laughed, but it seems to be the case.

The two runner up classes were also taught by new teachers at BHS, all under the age of 30.

"All young ones," Archibald said.

The students didn't just bring in cans of franks and beans and Ramen noodles either, many of the items were specifically requested by the food bank for the holiday season. More than 10,000 cans were donated in total.

"They doubled the amount from last year," Stuber said.