The Farm Boy Who Invented Hershey’s [Level B2]

The Farm Boy Who Invented Hershey’s [Level B2]
Quizzed ESL Activities

The Resilience of Milton Hershey: A Chocolate Legacy

The story of Milton Hershey is one of incredible resilience and vision. Born in 1857 in Pennsylvania, Hershey’s early life was marked by his father’s reckless business endeavors, which left the family in extreme poverty. Despite these hardships, Milton was determined to carve out a better future for himself and his mother.

Apprenticeship and Early Failures

At age 14, Hershey began an apprenticeship in a printing shop, but he soon realized his true passion lay elsewhere: the confectionery business. After four years of learning the trade, he ventured out on his own. However, his initial attempts to establish a candy shop in Philadelphia and later New York both plummeted into bankruptcy. Despite being labeled a failure by some, Hershey refused to salvage only what remained; he chose to start anew.

The Caramel Breakthrough

A turning point occurred when Hershey discovered a unique method for producing caramels using condensed milk, which gave them a longer shelf life and a smoother texture. This innovation led to the establishment of the Lancaster Caramel Company, which became a massive success. Yet, Hershey was restless and always looking for the next potential breakthrough.

Democratizing Chocolate

In 1893, Hershey was captivated by chocolate-making machinery from Germany. At the time, chocolate was a luxury reserved for the elite. Hershey envisioned making it affordable for the masses. He made the risky decision to sell his successful caramel company for $1 million to focus solely on chocolate. His massive factory in Derry Township became the cornerstone of a global empire.

A Philanthropic Vision

Hershey’s success was not just about profit; it was about community. He built a model town for his workforce, complete with schools, parks, and healthcare. His most philanthropic act was the creation of a school for orphans, to which he eventually donated the bulk of his fortune. Today, the Hershey Company remains a testament to one man’s vision of quality and social responsibility.

Vocabulary Table

Term Pronunciation Definition Used in sentence
Resilience /rɪˈzɪliəns/ The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness. His story is one of incredible resilience and vision.
Reckless /ˈrɛkləs/ (of a person or their actions) without thinking or caring about the consequences. His father recklessly spent all his money on oil.
Endeavors /ɛnˈdɛvərz/ Attempts to achieve a goal. His father’s failed business endeavors left them in poverty.
Apprenticeship /əˈprɛntɪsʃɪp/ A period of time working for a low wage to learn a trade. Milton landed his first job as an apprenticeship for a printer.
Plummeted /ˈplumɪtɪd/ To fall or drop straight down at high speed. He led his candy sales to plummet during the depression.
Bankruptcy /ˈbæŋkrʌptsi/ A legal status of being unable to pay debts. He had no other choice but to file for bankruptcy.
Salvage /ˈsælvɪdʒ/ To rescue or save from potential loss or destruction. They advised him to close his store and salvage whatever he could.
Proprietary /prəˈpraɪətəri/ Relating to an owner or ownership; protected by patent. Sales of his proprietary caramels took off.
Mass produced /mæs prəˈdjuːst/ Manufactured in large quantities using machinery. Chocolate could be mass produced and therefore cheap.
Subsidiary /səbˈsɪdiəri/ A company controlled by a holding or parent company. He incorporated the Hershey Chocolate Company as a subsidiary.
Affordable /əˈfɔːrdəbl/ Inexpensive; within one’s financial means. He made it affordable for the masses.
Philanthropic /ˌpɪlənˈθrɒpɪk/ (of a person or organization) seeking to promote the welfare of others. Milton Hershey was known for his philanthropic vision.
Workforce /ˈwɜːrkfɔːrs/ The people engaged in or available for work. He built a town for his workforce.
Solely /ˈsoʊlli/ Not involving anyone or anything else; only. He was going to devote his focus solely to chocolate.
Synonymous /sɪˈnɒnɪməs/ Having the same or nearly the same meaning; closely associated. Products that are still synonymous with the company today.

Vocabulary Flashcards



Lexical Focus: Collocations & Chunks

Don’t just learn isolated words—learn chunks of language. These patterns will help you speak more naturally.

  • live from hand to mouth
    Idiom
    His parents were poor farmers who lived from hand to mouth.
  • take a gamble on
    Collocation
    His aunt Maddie took a gamble on Hershey and loaned him enough money.
  • file for bankruptcy
    Fixed Phrase
    Hershey had no other choice but to file for bankruptcy in 1886.
  • devote focus solely to
    Collocation
    He was going to devote his focus solely to chocolate.
  • afford to produce
    Collocation
    Milton couldn’t even afford to produce the caramels and ship them out.
  • synonymous with
    Adjective + Preposition
    He introduced products that are still synonymous with the company today.
  • a turning point
    Noun Phrase
    This tragedy proved to be a turning point in Milton’s life.
  • stay afloat
    Idiom
    Milton managed to stay afloat by selling his candies at wholesale prices.

De-Chunking: Advanced Gap-Fill

Select the correct phrase from the box to complete these business-related sentences.

live from hand to mouth
take a gamble on
file for bankruptcy
devote his focus solely to
stay afloat

1. Because his father’s business failed, the family had to .

2. Despite having no money, Milton managed to by selling his candies wholesale.

3. After several unsuccessful attempts, he had no choice but to .

4. He made the risky decision to sell his caramel company and chocolate.

5. His aunt Maddie decided to him and loaned him enough money to start again.



While-viewing Tasks (B2)

Complete these tasks while watching the video to enhance your comprehension:



Chronological Timeline

Fill in the key events for each year mentioned:

  • 1857:
  • 1886:
  • 1900:
  • 1909:
  • 1944:

Comprehension & Analysis

Answer based on the video:

  • How did Hershey’s father’s business style differ from Milton’s later approach?
  • Explain the role of “fresh milk” in the success of Hershey’s caramels and chocolate.
  • What motivated Hershey to sell a successful $1 million caramel company?

Concepts to Identify

Identify how the video illustrates these concepts:

  • Entrepreneurial Resilience (Overcoming bankruptcy)
  • Market Disruption (Affordable chocolate for everyone)
  • Paternalistic Capitalism (Building a model town for workers)
  • Strategic Pivoting (Switching from caramels to chocolate)

Embedded Video:

Fill in the Blanks Exercise

1. Milton Hershey’s childhood was marked by his father’s business endeavors.

2. The family moved to Lancaster where they lived in extreme .

3. His sister Serena passed away from at the age of four.

4. At age 14, Milton landed his first job as an for a local printer.

5. He purposely broke a machine and was by his boss.

6. Milton’s first taste of the business was at Joseph Royer’s shop.

7. He learned that the secret to soft caramels was using .

8. His first shop in Philadelphia flourished during the .

9. In 1886, Milton had to file for for the second time.

10. The Lancaster Caramel Company eventually brought in over a dollars in sales.

11. Hershey was inspired by from Germany that could mass produce chocolate.

12. He built a massive in Derry Township, Pennsylvania.

13. Hershey made chocolate for the masses at 5 cents a bar.

14. He established a school for and donated his fortune to it.

15. Even during World War I, Hershey survived by using his own , like sugar from Cuba.

Vocabulary Quiz

1. What does “resilience” mean in the context of Milton Hershey?

a) The ability to make a lot of money quickly.
b) The capacity to recover and succeed after many failures.
c) A passion for making high-quality chocolate.
d) The skill of managing a large workforce.

2. If a person is “reckless,” they are…

a) careless and indifferent to potential danger.
b) very careful and detail-oriented in their work.
c) successful in every business they start.
d) always looking for new ways to save money.

3. What is an “apprenticeship”?

a) A high-paying job for experienced workers.
b) A university degree in business management.
c) A period of learning a trade from a skilled professional.
d) A legal document required to open a candy shop.

4. When sales “plummeted,” they…

a) stayed the same for a long period.
b) increased rapidly due to high demand.
c) reached a new record high.
d) fell or dropped straight down at high speed.

5. “Bankruptcy” is a legal state where a person or company…

a) has more money than they can spend.
b) is officially unable to pay their debts.
c) decides to sell all their products at half price.
d) moves their business to another country.

6. To “salvage” something means to…

a) rescue or save it from being lost or destroyed.
b) throw it away because it is no longer useful.
c) buy it at a very high price from a competitor.
d) hide it so that nobody else can find it.

7. A “proprietary” recipe is one that is…

a) shared with everyone in the industry.
b) very old and no longer popular.
c) owned exclusively by a specific company.
d) easy to make with simple ingredients.

8. “Philanthropic” actions are focused on…

a) maximizing personal profit at any cost.
b) improving factory machines for faster production.
c) expanding a business into international markets.
d) promoting the welfare and happiness of others.

9. If two things are “synonymous,” it means they are…

a) very closely associated with each other.
b) completely different and unrelated.
c) competing for the same market share.
d) only available in specific locations.

10. To devote focus “solely” to one thing means to…

a) spend a small amount of time on it each day.
b) focus exclusively and only on that one thing.
c) ask others to help you with that task.
d) try many different things at the same time.

Fact or Fiction Quiz

1. Milton Hershey’s first major success was actually with caramels, not chocolate.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

2. The secret Swiss formula for milk chocolate was easily shared with Hershey’s employees.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

3. Hershey built a town in Cuba to secure a reliable and affordable supply of sugar.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

4. The Milton Hershey School was established partly because Milton and his wife had no children of their own.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

5. Hershey’s company struggled during World War I due to the scarcity of imported sugar.

a) Fact
b) Fiction

Extension Activities (B2)

Apply what you’ve learned through these challenging activities:



CSR Report

Write a brief “Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) analysis of Hershey’s business model. Was building a town a good idea? Why or why not?

Difficulty:
Moderate

Pitch Competition

Imagine you are a competitor in 1900. Pitch a new marketing slogan that would compete with the “5-cent affordable chocolate bar.”

Difficulty:
Medium

Ethical Debate

Discuss the ethical implications of Hershey’s company town. Compare it to modern corporate campuses like Google or Meta. What are the pros and cons for workers?

Difficulty:
Challenging

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