ELMA, WASH. - About 200 natural resource,
teenagers in Elma, Wash., are “Nearly half the work force of
responding this summer to an this area is mvolved in forestry,”
unusual request: Wanted - Hard said Clarence Pearson, Elma High
workers. No pay, but great future School vocational agriculture
benefits. teacher and FFA advisor.
The students, members of the “So the work these students
local Future Fanners of Amenca complete today could enhance
chapter, are reforesting more than their livelihoods as adults.”
1,200 acres of timberland in an Project Timber is part of the
effort to restore the area’s primary national FFA’s Building Our
American Communities (BOAC)
FFA chapter plants a million tree seedlings
program. Through the BOAC
program, the FFA seeks to im
prove small and rural com
munities while building youth
leadership.
Last year, the Elma FFA
chapter worked more than 18,000
hours with nearby timber com
panies and small woodland
owners, Pearson said. This year,
they’ve already planted nearly one
million seedlings.
With seedlings from timber
companies and the state of
Washington, the FFA advisor
estimated the project is already
valued at nearly $300,000. That
doesn’t include labor, or the value
of the forests at maturity.
Community adults adults also
help out by transporting students
to woodland sites and assisting as
supervisors.
Project Timber began several
years ago when local timber
companies and individuals called
on the FFA chapter for assistance,
Pearson said.
"We need more wood all the include them m the renewal plan
tune,” he explamed. “We export a because they are less likely to
lot of logs to Japan. We’re also know how to reforest an area
working to grow valuable soft- scientifically.”
woods, such as Doublas firs, which So, while other high school
supply most of the plywood and students are vacationing this
lumber for the housing and con- summer, FFA members in this
structionindustries.” Northwest community will be at
The scientific renewal of forests work,
doesn’t stop with large companies, “Reforestation is a year-round
however. project,” Pearson said. “After
“Though most people believe planting, there is the need for
that large companies own all the animal control, then, more
timber, nearly 60 percent is owned clearing of the land to plant more
by individuals,” Pearson said. We trees.”
Tree seedling is planted by member of FFA chapter in Elma,
Wash, as part of BOAC project that features reforesting of
some l,2ooacres of timberland with a million seedlings.
Rd 1, Box 420
Narvon, PA 17555
215-445-6186
mjw
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 16,1981—C17
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