The Creston FFA chapter planted 26 deciduous trees valued at $5,000 last month. Trees were planted on the Creston Community Housing Campus and the Union County Historical Complex located in McKinley Park.
The Creston FFA has utilized the Alliant Energy Trees Forever grant since 1992 to secure 41 grants which has resulted in the planting of 2,131 deciduous and 812 evergreen trees valued at $322,328. Trees Forever is a nonprofit charitable organization, headquartered in Marion. Founded in 1989, the organization continues with its commitment to connect people to the environment through the planting and care of trees, prairie, and other natural areas throughout Iowa.
During the past 29 years the Creston FFA Chapter has been involved in planting 3,265 deciduous trees, 793 evergreen trees and 786s shrubs valued at $624,350.00 in 141 landscaping projects throughout the Creston community.
The local FFA chapter has utilized the many tree planting projects to build on their success in the State FFA National Chapter Award on the state level. The Creston FFA Chapter has been recognized for 37 years in a row as one of the top FFA programs in the state. The landscaping projects involving Alliant Energy and Trees Forever have been a big part of the chapter’s community recognition on the state and national levels since 1992.
According to Kelsey Bailey, Creston FFA Advisor, “Students look forward to the spring and fall plantings. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach by doing. Planting and landscaping is a life skill that students will someday use when becoming a homeowner. Students are also exposed to the hands on application of skills necessary in the nursery and landscaping career.”
Bailey, who teaches a landscaping class in the agriculture program, said planting trees, is a hands on application of what her students are learning in class. She also said her student’ ability to not only learn skills but provide a service for their community is what makes being an agriculture education student and FFA member so important.
Galen Zumbach, who served as the Creston FFA advisor from 1977 to 2010, and is an adjunct professor at SWCC, will be submitted another “Trees Forever” grant valued at $5,000 for planting in the spring of 2022. The spring grant will see plantings again at the Creston Community Housing campus, and a city park downtown. Zumbach has been involved with the Trees Forever Program since 1992 writing 42 successful grant applications.
Trees Forever will notify the successful grant applicants sometime in Feb. 1, 2022.