AMES, Iowa -- Twenty-three southwestern Iowa residents have recently completed the Iowa Community Tree Steward Program that was offered in Montgomery and Page counties.

This educational program involves 24 hours of intensive community forestry instruction designed specifically for citizen volunteers, community forestry and park staff, tree care professionals, utility company representatives and county conservation board staff.

Course instruction focuses on various aspects of community tree management including tree and shrub identification, basic tree biology, species selection, pest management, value assessment, tree planting, inventory techniques, program planning, funding and implementation.

The Iowa Community Tree Steward Program is sponsored by Iowa State University (ISU) Extension, ISU Forestry Extension, the Forestry Division of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Community and Urban Forestry Council, and Trees Forever.

To date, 645 individuals have graduated from this program since it started in 1992, and nearly 22,000 public service hours have been contributed. For more information, contact Tivon Feeley, extension forester, Iowa State University, 339 Science II, Ames, Iowa, 50011, phone (515) 294-6739 or e-mail cfeeley@iastate.edu.

The following individuals have completed the course:

Barbara Shipley, Villisca

Stanley Shipley, Villisca

Clarence Peterson, Villisca

Angela Wallick, Villisca

Bill Victor, Villisca

Pat Victor, Villisca

Sharon Yahnke, Sidney

Joe Drake, Essex

Ron Meier, Clarinda

Mary Jardon, Red Oak

Deb Crouse, Red Oak

Derry Wolford, Shenandoah

Joy Smith, Griswold

Heidi Carter, Shenandoah

Bill Drey, Red Oak

Bernie Binns, Red Oak

Erv Ficek, Red Oak

Anne Chambers, Sidney

Ron Sanson, Clarinda

Don Christianson, Clarinda

Bradley Dumler, Villisca

Carole Rowland, Pleasantville

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