Giving back to the fishing community! The following is from the Yantis Yearbook Facebook page. I know several of these kids personally through my son who is a Senior this year. They put a lot of hard work into this project for quite sometime.




Today was a big day for the Agriculture Education Department of Yantis High School. Through a partnership with the Lake Fork Sportsman's Association and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, a new greenhouse was dedicated today that will be used primarily for growing Buttonbushes. This is a plant that is very beneficial to lakes and wetlands for providing habitats for fish, ducks and many other animals that live in and around Lake Fork.
The dedication began with Yantis ISD Superintendent Dr. Peter Running welcoming those in attendance and speaking about the power of partnership and the great benefits that come through working with state and area organizations. Carolyn West of the Lake Fork Sportsman's Association shared similar sentiments and introduced outgoing LFSA president, Mr. Kevin Storey who shared his pride in this project being the best way he could end his term and how the project began with a simple phone call from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and evolved into an effort involving a number of individuals - notably those already mentioned along with Dan Bennet, Dick Walker, Sue Parish, Carol Boykin, LaDale and Peggy York, Ken West and Al Sealy.
Mr. Jerry Brem, Yantis High School Principal and Mrs. Tonya Rabenaldt spoke of the hard work and generosity of those involved in the project. The greenhouse is the result of a 3 month grant writing process that underwent a great deal of scrutiny and revision before being approved, the donation of a lot of time and work from the members of the Lake Fork Sportsman's Association in choosing the building, preparing the site and assembling it and the planter boxes that are inside.
Local chapter Future Farmers of America president and Area VI officer Gracie Beech then gave a wonderful speech based on the motto of FFA, "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve" that summed up the many benefits of this project that go far beyond a simple greenhouse but how it will serve the school, school beyond and local enviornment.
Carolyn West then dedicated the greenhouse with a nice plaque that will be hung on it and Gracie Beech and McKenna Rodriguez cut the ribbon to officially open it.
FFA officers Madison Peavler, McKenna Rodriguez and Gracie Beech then served punch and slices from one of the coolest cakes you'll see - a baked and frosted version of the greenhouse and body of water. Special thanks to all those in Yantis ISD, Lake Fork Sportsman's Association and Texas Parks and Wildlife who made this happen.

Photos by Cristo Sanchez

Went to school there k-12 and I'm very proud of this... good job YISD. LFSA. TPWD

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing this!!

You know Don Mcafee?

Not personally. But yea. Why?

That's cool

Mark, where's the cake, you know I like cake?

Just for you Stephen!

Well Done

ps. I could have helped you with the rum.

How does the bushes that they are growing work? Are they planning on dumping them in deep water or is it for the shoreline? I am going to have to go look it up now. Good thing that they are doing Mark. I'm always happy to see kids get involved in something besides a video game.

That's Cool Mark!

GREAT.

Thanks for sharing, Mark. A very worthwhile project for the kids and the lake!