Sweet and spicy sauce garners rave reviews and evolves into student-led business.

A group of Midland High School FFA students is proving that a good education and teamwork can create something truly special. 

Its “Sweet and Sassy” barbecue sauce, featuring jalapeños and pineapple, has blossomed into a full-fledged entrepreneurial endeavor for the school’s barbecue team, Smokeshow BBQ.

It began as an assignment in a food processing class, taught by Midland FFA Advisor Jamie Christiansen, and earned the group top honors at county competitions in eastern Iowa as well as notoriety at the state level. 

“In our food processing class, we had to make a sauce,” explained Wyatt Christiansen, a junior at Midland High School in Jones...