IOWA LAKES COMMUNITY COLLEGE DONATES TREES TO AREA HIGH SCHOOLS

Algona High School joined with the Landscape & Turfgrass Technician program at Iowa Lakes this week to make the world a little greener.

Kevin Fehr, the instructor of the Landscape &Turfgrass Technician program, delivered trees to local area high schools to help celebrate the 135th annual Arbor Day, which was officially held in late April.

Arbor Day was established by President Theodore Roosevelt to celebrate the importance of trees to our nation. The President was even quoted saying, "to exist as a nation, to prosper as a state, and to live as people, we must have trees."

The tree Fehr delivered to Algona High School was a Deborah Norway Maple, which will grow to about 45 feet tall and have about a 40 foot spread. The tree has new, reddish-purple leaves which will mature to dark green.

Fehr feels that taking part in Arbor Day is crucial for many reasons.

"Arbor Day – and springtime – is an excellent opportunity to take stock of the trees on your property and plan for the future by planting a tree or two," said Fehr.  "We need to stop and think about all the benefits we receive from trees: shade, saving on energy costs, food and homes for wildlife. They give off oxygen and help clean our air. Trees are made into paper and other products and they have an impact on general aesthetics. The list goes on an on," he said.

Fehr delivered Shingle Oak trees to Spencer, Okoboji, and Estherville high schools last week; and an Adams Crabapple tree to Emmetsburg earlier this week. In Algona, he got to deliver the tree to FFA Instructor Lynn MacVey’s Horticulture class and talk about the proper way to plant a tree and the things to look for when selecting plant material.

Students Jon Parker, Nick Kajewski and Zach Lucas help plant the Deborah Norway Maple tree donated to FFA Instructor Lynn MacVey’s Horticulture class by the Iowa Lakes Community College Landscape & Turfgrass Technician program.