SWCD and 4H participate in the tree planting initiative

PLANTED TREES–The Randolph County Soil and Water Conservation District, along with the local Illinois Extension 4-H Foundation members and Girl Scout Troop 8234 of Steeleville, recently planted trees at the fairgrounds in Sparta. Girl Scout and 4-H members that helped included (not pictured in order): Rylea Mulholland, Tsla Mitchell, Mallory Mueller, Karinna Schnoeker, Ellie Reed, Emma Rieckenberg, Roselene Huey, Sophie Rieckenberg, Alaina Smith, Chase Smith, Lawson Kurtz and Breanna Autry.

A statewide tree planting initiative was coordinated by the local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and Illinois Extension 4-H Foundation. Each participating SWCD was supplied with 25 oak trees to be planted on a public site within the district.

The local Randolph County SWCD and Extension 4-H was one of this year’s 38 statewide participants. A total of 950 four foot tall potted oak trees were supplied by the Forrest Keeling Nursery of Elsberry, MO, and all the trees will all be planted this spring throughout Illinois.

For more on the initiative, please see this week’s print edition.