For over 50 years the ISU Forestry Club and ISU Chapter of the Society of American Foresters have been selling Christmas trees and wreaths to support their activities. The Club sells Scotch pine and white pine that are grown on their own plantation on ISU land in west Ames. They also sell Fraser fir and balsam fir that are grown on a small family-run tree farm near LaCrosse, WI. Wreaths are produced by Belle Plaine Nursery, an Iowa company that has been producing holiday greenery for over 138 years.
2016 marked another successful year for the Club fundraiser as they again sold out of trees and wreaths. Almost all patrons are repeat customers, and some report having bought trees from the Club for over two decades. Among other activities, the Club uses the proceeds to support their attendance at the Iowa and National Society of American Foresters (SAF) meetings. This past fall, seven of the students returned from the national meeting with offers of employment.
In spring 2017 the Club will host the Midwest Forester’s Conclave. This event will bring nearly 200 students from Midwest forestry programs to Central Iowa to test their timbersports and forestry skills. Proceeds are also used to fund a student scholarship and to host professional speakers.
The Club would like to extend a sincere thank you to all their loyal customers!!
Students tying trees on cars,
sawing fresh cuts,
picking out trees with customers,
waiting for customers,
and the fire department stopped by to give us some fire safety tips.