Most kids get their hands dirty every day, but not many do so in the White House Kitchen Garden with first lady Michelle Obama.
Meagan Alford 's son, Caden , was one of five third-graders from Sumner Elementary to participate in Monday's fourth annual White House kitchen garden spring planting ceremony.
"He said he got to plant lettuce and broccoli, and he said he got to shake Mrs. Obama's hand, and she signed his T-shirt," said the proud mom, who talked to Caden a few hours after the ceremony.
"I told him, 'Don't spill anything on it.'"
Alford said 9-year-old Caden works in the garden at home and school and raised chickens with his father.
His class wrote to Michelle Obama about plans to grow a garden and asked for advice on what kinds of fruits and vegetables to include.
Then the White House called Sumner last week, requesting a handful of students to join others from across the country and the first lady in the Capitol, Alford said.
"It's huge," Alford said. "He has been so excited since they told him. ... He said 'Momma, my heart hurt for an hour after they told me.'"
The first lady told the audience Monday that their letters were wonderful.
"I thought: 'Why not come and see me at the White House and help me plant my garden?" said Obama, according to a transcript from The White House website.
"We've got kids from Pennsylvania. (Applause.) Woo! And North Carolina. (Applause.) Woo hoo!"
Caden's grandparents bought him a digital camera to document his trip, Alford said.
He got a fresh haircut and two new pairs of shoes -- plaid tennis shoes and blue and white Nikes -- for the trip.
The group from Sumner, which also includes three teachers and the principal, might visit more monuments and museums today and return to Greensboro in the evening, Alford said.
"I cannot be more happy and more proud," she said. "I mean, this is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him. I'm just so thankful that he was chosen to do this. I just hope that it's an enriching experience for him."
