Published On: 06.25.15 | 

By: Payton Edberg

Alabama seniors ‘get down to business’ at Golden Flake

Golden Flake featured image

Nine of Alabama’s brightest high school seniors pulled on hairnets and let the chips fall where they may – potato chips that is.

The students toured the Golden Flake factory in Birmingham as a part of the Alabama Governor’s School “Getting Down to Business” class. The students learned about Golden Flake’s business from the harvesting of potatoes and corn to the delivery of chips to stores.

Golden Flake from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.

Samford University is hosting 90 rising seniors who show dedication to their studies. Those students choose classes in natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. The AGS focuses on subjects not commonly available in a high school classroom, including valuable hands-on experiences. The Golden Flake tour was certainly “hands-on,” as students grabbed and tasted a variety of fresh chips throughout the visit.

Delois Smith, a long-time tour guide at Golden Flake, led students around the factory while pointing out assembly lines, conveyer belts and packaging. The students learned about the history and development of the company. They put a visual with the information as they saw the production of tortilla chips, puff corn, pork skins and Golden Flake’s famous potato chips.

Howard Finch, dean of Samford’s Brock School of Business, called the tour a highlight of the class he teaches each summer. Throughout the visit, he brought attention to topics that lined up with the curriculum. Finch specifically mentioned regulation, in reference to rooms that tourists cannot enter due to federal regulations, and the costs that creates for the company.

“This tour has reflected my business class because it makes you think more like a businessman rather than a consumer,” said Walker Phillips of Spanish Fort.

Daun Lee, a student at Indian Springs School, said the business class taught her a lot about stocks and investments. She chose to apply to AGS for the chance to interact with students from across the state. The tour group included students from schools spanning from Mobile to Huntsville.

“The economic future of Alabama depends on entrepreneurs and employers who see the value and opportunities for doing business in our state,” Finch said.

The AGS concludes with a closing ceremony on Friday, June 26.