Third-graders take root
“Four years ago, we began working together with a mission to support the Town of Farragut as they earned the distinction as a Tree City,” FIS Principal Suzanne Parham said about the school’s partnership with the Town.
“We were so honored when [Town Community Development director] Mr. [Mark] Shipley reached out to us,” she said.
As part of that partnership, the third-graders competed in an essay contest about Arbor Day. The winners’ essays are displayed at Farragut Community Center.
The winners are: Mario Azevedo, Landon Ball, Jessica Broome, Dani Bryant, Barrett Cary, Lena Bell Chesney, Helosia DeFreitas Selvo, Chloe Dong, Charlotte Du, Grant Garrett, Annabelle Goddard, Leah Huning, Saijal James, Eunsun Ko, Evelyn Larsen, Emma Li, Isabelle Locke, Annika Maier, Stella McClurkin Ellie Moir, Pierce Moody, Beckett O'Dell, Adeline Roberts, Ira Sharma, Emma Sours, Ritvi Sriram, Grady Spar, Cole Tafazzoli and Daniel Wang.
Also, the students heard from Alex Bremner, urban and community forestry engagement specialist from Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry, about why trees are needed: to prevent erosion, provide oxygen, hold soil in place and other benefits.
“Trees are vital to our community because they perform countless tasks,” he said.
“We’re here for Arbor Day,” Bremner said. “The first
Arbor Day was held in 1872
in Nebraska. A bunch of people got together and decided … we should celebrate trees.”
He said on a day in 1872, they planted a million trees.
“A million trees is hard to wrap your head around, but they really wanted to make that first Arbor Day to be important,” Bremner said. “They really wanted to signify the importance of trees.
“Tennessee thought that was pretty cool, so they had their first Arbor Day three years later, in 1875,” he
added. “This year actually marks the third year for
Farragut holding an Arbor Day.”
For a municipality to be declared a Tree City, Bremner said it must fulfill four requirements:
• have an active tree ordinance,
• have a tree care advocacy group to look after the trees,
•celebrate Arbor Day and
•spend at least $2 per person on tree care. Bremner said last year the Town spent $4.91 per person on trees.
