Bradley County 4-H members recently stepped out of the traditional classroom setting and into a local kitchen for a unique, hands-on learning experience at Simple Simon’s Pizza in Warren.
During the educational visit, youth participants received an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations of a commercial restaurant. Local business leadership, including owner Gayla McWhorter, her husband Charles McWhorter, and restaurant manager April Bradley, guided the group through the core aspects of running a food service business.
The interactive tour focused heavily on practical skills and industry standards. Members learned essential health and safety protocols, including proper hand sanitation and food safety regulations. In addition to health compliance, the students received a lesson in basic business management, exploring topics such as inventory control, product pricing, and operating costs.
Following the instructional portion of the tour, the 4-H members applied their newly acquired knowledge by crafting their own custom pizzas under the guidance of the restaurant staff.
We are incredibly grateful to Gayla McWhorter, Charles McWhorter, and April Bradley for taking the time to mentor our members and provide such an engaging, practical learning opportunity. A special thank you to our 4-H Clover Crew leader, Adriana Martinez, for getting this amazing opportunity together.
The event highlights 4-H’s ongoing commitment to workforce readiness, practical life skills, agriculture, and local community engagement across South Arkansas.
Submitted by: RJ Martin
This article was submitted by an SRN reader.
