By Tom Woerner, The Daily Record

Food trucks pop up at all sorts of events and places and are a growing part of the food service industry. Students at Central Carolina Community college are taking advantage of that trend in a new food truck that services as a mobile, hands-on classroom and which made its first appearance in Harnett County Wednesday (March 6).

The second-level students in the culinary arts program at Central Carolina Community College stepped out of their classroom in Dunn and into their mobile kitchen in Lillington for the first time Wednesday. Once they set up, they drew students and staff members out of their buildings at the Harnett Main Campus with the mouthwatering smells of their full-service grill.

Students sold food items including barbecue sandwiches, barbecue turkey, hibachi vegetables and chicken, onion rings, egg rolls, rice bowls, several desserts and assorted other items.

While students worked in the background, Chef De-Ven Atkinson supervised and handed out plates of food to excited students.

Though somewhat cramped in the small trailer that makes up the food truck, students said they were learning and having fun.

"It's really fun and it gives us different experiences we can't get in the normal classroom," student Jackson Sloss said. "It gives us some different experiences we haven't seen before."

Instructor Regina Minter-Hargett was overseeing the food truck operation Wednesday. She said she was pleased with what she saw.

"This gives them some experience dealing with people and that is important," Ms. Minter-Hargett said. "It also teaches them to work outside the regular classroom."

She also said the project is a benefit to students and staff members.

"This lets us bring food to the people," Ms. Minter-Hargett said.

Instructor Shavonda Guyton was one of those enjoying lunch from the student's food truck in the sunshine Wednesday afternoon.

"It is really convenient," Ms. Guyton said. "I don't have to go far for lunch and the food is really good. I also think it is good that the students are producing something and they can give back to the school."

The food truck will be setting up at different locations throughout the semester.

"We are trying to set up on all the campuses," Ms. Minter-Hargett said.

In addition to Lillington, Central Carolina Community College has campuses in Lee and Chatham counties.

Maurice Pereira was one of the students who enjoyed lunch Wednesday.

"It is really good and it's not expensive," Mr. Pereira said.

Lydia Russell was also taking a break between classes.

"It is convenient to have it right here when you have a short lunch period," Ms. Russell said.

Proceeds are returned to the CCCC Culinary Arts Foundation.