To celebrate Arbor Day, Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services delivered more than 960 evergreen tree seedlings to 4th grade students within the Durand, Ellsworth, Elmwood, Pepin, Plum City, Prescott, River Falls and Spring Valley school districts throughout the week. Each student, through a partnership with Fourth Grade Foresters USA, received an individually packaged seedling with instructions and safety tips for planting and caring for their tree.
“We have a responsibility to provide safe, reliable electric service to our members. To do that, sometimes we have to trim trees or even remove them if they come in contact with power lines. One way to help preserve trees is to educate people about planting the right tree in the right place,” said Bill McMahon, Pierce Pepin’s right-of-way supervisor.
The Fourth Grade Foresters USA project is a great way to get young people thinking about our environment. And the hands-on experience is an important reminder that planting trees away from power lines helps protect the trees, prevents tree-related power outages, and keeps the public and our employees safe.
The cost for the tree seedlings is paid by the cooperative, so there is no cost to the students, teachers, schools or the taxpayers.
Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services is recognized as a Tree Line USA utility by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters for its ongoing commitment to tree planting, quality tree care and public education.