Five Zillah High School FFA members have taken up the challenge to prepare the school’s first landscaping entry in the Central Washington State Fair.
According to Advisor Kellie Tveter,  the opportunity to design and create the display presented itself just before the start of classes.
She said Grandview High School this year got a new ag program leader who came to the school only about a week before classes started.
The Grandview FFA program had committed to landscaping entries and the advisor there asked for help to fulfill part of that commitment.
“We wanted to help Grandview out,” said Tveter.
The five ZHS students who stepped into the breach are sophomores Adi Stewart and Katie Wysling, and juniors Trevor Schell, Trevor Perrault, and Ty Purdy.
The motivation for taking on the challenge was partly to benefit the Zillah chapter and partly to do something they enjoyed the students said.
“We wanted to help get recognition for our chapter,” said Wysling.
“It’s something fun to do,” said Schell.
The floor plan has been completed for the 10 X 12 space the five will have to work with.
The next step is gathering the plants and flowers that will be used in the display.
Some of the items will have to be purchased, but the group is also seeking donations of materials, Tveter said.
The group will have just one day, Sept. 24, to install their entry.
Some members of the small group have had experience in floral or landscape design.
Stewart said she has taken a floral design class and her mother is a florist.
Schell, whose family owns Schell’s Produce near Toppenish, said he has had some landscaping experience in that operation.
The design of the display was arrived at by consensus, the students said, and each one contributed ideas about what was important.
“It has to be colorful,” said Purdy, “with no cement showing.”
The display will be set up on a bare cement floor, which is carefully covered with bark.
“It needs a main piece that catches your eye,” said Perrault.
Tveter said all the FFA groups creating displays will receive at least $100 for participation, and first place will receive $350.
She acknowledges that what the group has taken on won’t be easy.
“It’s a huge learning experience,” she said. “There is a steep learning curve.”
Still, she also sees developing landscaping skills as a great opportunity.
“Landscaping is a good money maker,” she said. “Ag classes are all about building life skills.”
The Central Washington State Fair begins Sept. 25 and runs through Oct. 4.