This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

I hope Drew Brunson likes coleslaw.

Brunson, a student at Cedar Ridge Elementary, in Cedar Hills, was recently named the state winner of the National Bonnie Plants Colossal Cabbage Contest . His giant cruciferous vegetable weighed 25.7 pounds and earned him a $1,000 education savings bond.

More than 1.5 million third graders in 48 states — 13,862 from Utah — participated in this free program, sponsored by Bonnie Plants, the largest producer of vegetable and herb plants in North America.

Since 2002, the company has sent free "oversized," cabbage plants — the O.S. Cross variety — to third grade classrooms. When nurtured and cared for, kids have been able to grow green, giant cabbages tipping the scales at 40 pounds.

At the end of the growing season, teachers from each class select the student who has grown the "best" cabbage, based on size and appearance. The student's name is then entered in a statewide drawing. Teachers who want to sign up for the program should visit bonnieplants.com