Checking out different types of feed at a farm supply shop probably doesn't rank very high on most teenagers summer to-do lists. But 4-H students are had a blast learning about cooperatives.

"How cooperatives organize, how they manage, and how they run and how important they are to our society," said Harvey Gordon, Mississippi 4-H specialist.

While in Meridian the 4-H students stopped at the East Mississippi Electric Power Association and at the Lauderdale County Farm Supply which operates as a co-op. The students toured the facilities, asked plenty of questions and even started their own soda co-op operated out of their buses.

"I think I learned about different careers I could go into, which is what I wanted to gain from this," said Chelsi Smith of Lee County, who is state president.

"What Mississippi 4-H is trying to do is get us prepared for life, because in just a few years we will be in the real world," said Drew Phillips of Lauderdale County. "And we want to be as prepared as we can be."

The agriculture industry is quickly changing, which is one reason why general manager Ron James wants the teenagers to see how the business operates on a day to day basis.

"A lot of the kids don't have much farm background," said James. "A lot of them are city kids and it's good to see some of the farming activities."

After having some Lauderdale County watermelon, the group traveled to Jackson to learn how state law affects co-ops.