Chinook students use 'FFA Helping Hands' grant to beautify post office area
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If all goes as planned, the northwest corner of the property around the Chinook Post Office should have "a bit more aesthetic appeal" according to AgEd teacher Robin Allen. She's directing the work of 30+ students in the Exploratory Agriculture course she teaches for seventh and eighth graders. Using a grant from the Montana Future Farmers of America (FFA) Foundation the students are building a low maintenance rock garden in the area around the flag pole at the post office.
The FFA chapter at Chinook High was one of five chapters in the state to receive funding under the FFA Foundation's Helping Hands program. The grant program "allows FFA students to submit their community service projects and receive the funding needed to move forward with their projects." Allen said the grant provided $600 for materials and the students are providing the labor. Last year the CHS chapter received a similar grant that allowed them to start the community garden now in use just east of the high school.
Leta Buck, the Chinook Postmaster, said, "A parent of a student in the FFA program asked if I was aware of any potential community projects the FFA students could undertake. I told her about the area around the flag pole needing some attention and shortly Robin Allen contacted me." At first the discussion centered around plantings of flowers. Buck said, "I got to thinking that we needed something that required little maintenance so we could take care of it. The idea of a rock garden seemed perfect for the area."
Robin Allen had her students submit drawings to show how the area might be turned into a rock garden. Buck and Allen chose the plan they thought best suited the area-a scenario that simulates a dry river bed and a walking path that crosses over a bridge at the river. An existing mature tree, already in place, naturally fits into the scene. Allen said, "When we are done the entire area will be covered with rock." Allen and Buck looked at samples of rock to get the right color for the project.
Allen said, "I contacted Patrick Construction, in Havre, to purchase the rock and have it delivered. When they learned it was a student project they said they would provide and deliver the rock at no cost. That was really nice and freed up some funds for other things on the project." Students will build the decorative wooden bridge that will be a part of the scene.
There are two classes working on the project. Allen explained, "Each class will come to work on the project on alternating days. I believe we can have the project done in about a week." The first work session was to remove an old shrub, level the area and pull weeds. For the students, it was a nice break to be out in the sunshine and working on a project to benefit their community.
The FFA Foundation, on its website, describes its mission to "cultivate partnerships, promote awareness and secure resources to enhance Agricultural Education and the Montana FFA Association." Describing the project that the group approved for the Chinook FFA chapter, it was noted "The chapter is excited to show the town of Chinook that they truly care about the community and want to always make it better in whatever way they can."
The "Journal" thanks the Montana FFA Foundation for its support and Robin Allen and her students for their efforts to beautify our town.
