Willacy County SWCD Donates Trees to Pittman Elementary To Celebrate Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day, the Willacy County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) donated three crape myrtles to Pittman Elementary in Raymondville.

Juan Pena, district conservationist, and Ben Garcia, soil conservationist, with the Willacy County Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) showed Ms. Hagnes’ fourth-grade students at Pittman how to properly plant the trees, and how to care for them so they will grow strong and tall. Pena and Garcia also visited with the students about the importance of soil in growing food and fiber and how different soil types can even be important in deciding where you build a house or pond.

“Earth Day is an excellent opportunity for all of us in conservation,” Pena said. “It allows us to take time to educate and motivate our younger generation on the importance of planting trees and caring for our environment.”

As the students helped plant the trees, they learned soil needs protection from wind and rain erosion. They also discovered that soil is made of important living organisms, such as earthworms – as a worm was discovered in the soil by the students.

Ramiro Moreno, Pittman Elementary assistant principal, and Elma Chavez, executive director of the Raymondville Chamber of Commerce, joined the NRCS staff and students for the tree planting ceremony. Chavez also serves on the Rio Bravo Resource Conservation and Development Board, which helps with community and economic development efforts in South Texas.

The Willacy SWCD board of directors includes Chuck Burns, chairman; Ricardo Chapa, vice chairman; Thomas Zdansky, secretary; Tommy Rains, Jr.; and Lawrence Braswell. The SWCD and its members are very active in educating area students and residents about the importance of natural resource conservation and land stewardship through events and contests they hold each year.

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NRCS employees from the Raymondville field office help students at Pittman Elementary School plant trees on school property for Earth Day.	Ben Garcia, NRCS Soil Conservationist, shows students that you can still have fun playing in the soil when you work for NRCS.
Students assist Juan Pena with replacing the soil around the trees to ensure all the trees roots are covered.	Juan Pena, NRCS District Conservation, plants a crape myrtle tree donated by the Willacy SWCD for Earth Day at Pittman Elementary.

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