Holiday trees will go to build bird habitats

WAITSBURG - Nicole Abel and her Waitsburg Ariculture Education students offer fresh cut trees to local businesses and clubs to decorate for the Festival of Trees. The students put up the trees before Hometown Christmas and pick them up again after New Year's Day.

Lane Gwinn

Waitsburg High School Ag. Power and Technology class (l-r) Blake Benavides, Jared Hankins, Logan Seal, Tyler Coulston, Victor Whitmore, Chasity Paddock, Marion, Duncan, Connor Goulette, and Ryan Meier in front of collected trees.

The trees are decorated with battery powered lights and unbreakable but creative ornaments to bring color and cheer to the downtown streets. Trees also compete for recognition as the Hometown Christmas fan favorite. The trees were covered with flags, bovine, bagels, lights, daisies, cardinals, and fire retardants. This year, one of the most cleverly decorated tree was by the Waitsburg Fire Department. It was partially burnt and decorated with a fire extinguisher under the tree.

On Monday, January 6, the trees were picked up by Abel, Ag Power and Technology students, and Pheasants Forever volunteer Eric Hockersmith. The kids loaded the trees into Hockersmith's trailer to become part of a bird habitat created by the Walla Walla chapter of Pheasants Forever.

Kate Hockersmith

Trees arranged into habitat.

The Blue Mountain Chapter of Pheasants Forever serves Columbia, Walla Walla, and Umatilla Counties. It is dedicated to habitat conservation, education, and local youth. The organization is preparing for its 34th Annual Banquet. The event will offer raffles and games, including the JROTC Raffle, Wall of Guns, Shotgun Pull, 50/50 Raffle, Live and Silent Auctions, and our Grand Prize Raffle. There are only 400 dinner tickets this year, and they will not be available at the door. Tickets are offered at the Pheasants Forever events page at https://tinyurl.com/3eaussmx.