WHEATLAND —Fourth Grade Forestry drew public officials, employees and trees to West Elementary School on Friday.
Wheatland Mayor Joe Fabian read the city’s Arbor Day proclamation to the students and enjoyed some fourth-grade banter.
Following Fabian’s comments, Tara Costanzo with Wyoming State Forestry Division shared some Arbor Day facts. She noted Arbor Day in Wyoming is the last Monday of April, but each state sets its own Arbor Day date. Florida, for instance, celebrates Arbor Day the third Friday of January.
Costanzo took photos of the fourth-graders then gave the floor to Bob Day, supervisor of Wheatland City Parks Department.
“When you’re looking for a place to plant, always look up and make sure there are no power lines,” Day advised the students. “And make sure there is nothing underground. Call 811 to make sure there is not wiring or pipes underneath.”
Day said the amur maple seedlings the city was handing out for Fourth Grade Forestry can grow 15 to 18 feet tall, as well as wide.
Day then distributed the seedlings to the fourth-graders with the help of Fabian; Wheatland city employees Don Lambert, Mike Lambert and City Clerk Candy Wright; and Costanzo and Travis Pardue with Wyoming State Forestry Division.
Day, a 34-year employee of the city parks department, said the city has observed Fourth Grade Forestry at West Elementary for the past 17 or 18 years. He said this year, the seedlings are much bigger than usual.
“These should take right off,” he said, noting the long root systems present on the seedlings distributed.
Day estimated about five years for the seedlings to grow to a respectable size.
