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Show THE 10 Thursday, May 27, 2004 PYRAMID Sanpete FFA Chapter has successes SANPETE COUNT- The Sanpete FFA Chapter has many successes under their belt for the year including the big buck contest; state fair; deer hunters giveaway; and potato sale. The group also took second place in the window painting for homecoming; and they attended a leadership conference in Y- Provo. At a Snow College judging, they took two livestock teams. Karl Peterson took fourth high individual, two horse teams and one agricultural mechanics team. Josh Barlow took fifth high individual and two range teams. One of the range teams took first place. High individuals in range were Travis Olsen, first place; Colby Mower, second; Kyle Arnoldson, third and Kaylynn Johnson sixth. The top three individuals competed in the national range competition in Oklahoma. They participated in national FFA week; an area contest; sweetheart contest; the enviorethon in Park City; and state convention in Cedar City, where they received a superior for chapter award, two state degrees and was fist runner-ucomfor a stream did restoration bank and records; chapter munity service. The North Sanpete FFA recently held their parent member banquet where accomplishments that have taken place in FFA were recognized, awards were given and new officers were announced. are Maria Peel, president; The new officer team for 2004-0Tania Tolbert, secretary; Colby Mower, Mandy Stubbs, reporter; Adam Stubbs, treasurer; Matt Hansen, deer hunters chair; Ashlee Stewart, activity agent and historian; and Cali Christensen, parliamentarian. Two members, Maria Peel and Kaylynn Johnson received their state degrees. In order to receiver this degree, the member has to be in ag and FFA for three years and fill out a record book of their work and income. At their closing social, they participated in mud volleyball and had refreshments. The chapter has many activities in the community and at their school and would not be able to do any of these things without the support of the community. New officers elected for the FFA 2004-0- 5 year are Maria Peel, presiTania Tolbert secretary; Mandy dent; Colby Mower, Stubbs, reporter; Adam Stubbs, treasurer; Matt Hansen, deer hunters chain Ashlee Stewart activity agent and historian; and Cali Christensen, parliamentarian. p Greenhand awards were given at the FFA chapter parent banquet held May 12 to those who took an ag class and were in their first year of FFA. Recipients were Cali Christensen, Amy Christensen and Devin ' Mackey (not pictured.) 5 t; Members of North Sanpete FFA Chapter participate in a forestry tivity where they had to identify plants and measure trees for ac- Six members of the North Sanpete FFA chapter recently competed in 1 McPolin Farm in Park City. Participants were Karl Peterson, Travis Olson, Paige Allen, Colby Mower, Maria Peel and Adam Stubbs. The members competed in five areas: I forestry, in which they had to identify plants and measure trees for lumber; wildlife, where they had to identify animals; in water, they had to test water quality; m urban development they identified buildings, water quality and waste track; and in soils they did texture, topsoil and nutrient testing. There was a workshop and a written test the competitors did as a team for each area. the enviorethon held at the h -- , 4 $ v' Experts advise caution when trying to Chapter Farmer awards were given to those in ag and second year FFA at the parent banquet held May 12. Recipients were Katrina Christensen, Ashlee Stewart Adam Stubbs, Matt Hanson. Tania Tolbert Torrie Munk and Kade Murdock (not pictured.) Maria Peel and Kaylynn Johnson, (neither pictured) who received state degrees. rescue wild animals Members of North Sanpete Chapter are ing, topsoil and nutrient testing at a recent enviorethon held recently shown doing soil textur- FFA in Park City. Plant kind-hearte- diseases 101 LOGAN satpeaoeooi gspumsg Gardening gu- rus may notice abnormalities in the landscape this time of year and wonder what disease or insect has invaded their space. A basic understanding of plant diseases is the first step toward solving plant problems. According to Loralie Cox, Utah State University Cache County Extension horticulturist, a plant disease may be broadly defined as any instance when a plant differs from a normal, healthy plant, either in function or structure. Gardeners must be familiar with a healthy plant to understand if there is a problem. A diseased plant may be shorter, have fewer leaves, have abnormal coloration, wilt, die prematurely or not produce flowers or fruit, she said. Whatever causes the disease is called a plant pathogen and may either be living or non-livin- A living g. (parasitic) plant pathogen can be a fungus, bacteria or virus. Non-livin- g (non-para-siti- c) plant pathogens include frost, hail, herbicides, high temperatures, drought or overwatering. Plant disease is an interaction between the host plant and a pathogen in an environment for favorable growth of the disease organism, Cox noted. Three things must be present for a disease a host, the to develop pathogen and a favorable environment. If one of these elements is missing, the disease cannot occur. Smart gardeners should do away with one of these elements before problems have a chance to develop. A plant that is adequately watered, fertilized and maintained will resist the incidence of disease and insect attack more readily than a under plant she stress, Plants that are outside said. their natural habitat tend to become stressed. For example, quaking aspen are native to the high mountain areas. They grow on north-facin- g slopes in fertile soil and cool temperatures. When transplanted into valley locations with soils and high well-draine- poor-drainin- NAPS-- - There are a number of factors to consider before trying t o adopt or rescue wildlife living in peoples own neighborhoods. Such inseemingly tervention could actually harm both people and the animals. People often bring in wildlife babies to our clinic because they mistakenly think the animals are either orphaned or sick, said Mark Pokras, DVM, director of the Wildlife Clinic at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Ma. But it is much more likely that the animals parents are either hiding from humans or out gathering food to bring back to their babies. It is not unusual for people to see such young animals waiting for return of their parents and assume they are in need of assistance. In most cases, infant wildlife will be fine without human interference, Pokras said. In addition to upsetting healthy animals, wildlife rescuers could be at risk for contracting serious diseases like rabies or salmonelosis, which can be carried by animals in the wild. Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection causing diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. People can get it if they dont carefully wash their hands after handling any animals, especially reptiles. And contrary to popular belief, people dont have to be bitten to get rabies. Rabies is caused by a virus that lives in the saliva and nerve tissues of infected animals. It is most often transmitted by a bite or scratch, but people can also be exposed if an infected animals saliva touches your broken skin, open wound, mouth, nose or eyes. In some regions of the country rabies occurs among bats, skunks, foxes, wood d, g summer temperatures, they struggle to survive. Remov- - i d well-meanin- g chucks, or raccoons. Although rabies is unusual in ' small rodents like squirrels and mice, these animals can carry other diseases and in- - ; flict painful bites so people should avoid contact with them as well. Dogs and cats are also at risk if they are allowed To go outdoors and their rabies shots are not kept up to I date. Cats in particular should probably be kept in- - ; doors because of the risks that they will be hit by cars, killed by predators, or ex- posed to infectious disease. Outdoor cats also can harm native wildlife, especially baby animals. Its not always possible to tell if wild animals are injured or ill, so avoiding contact with them is the best way to not contract an infectious disease, Pokras advised. It may be, however, appropriate to seek help for wildlife if they are wounded, emaciated or look weak. When intervention is critical to help a sick or injured wild animal, be sure to get help from your local animal , control officer, wildlife rehabilitate, or fish and wildlife agency, Pokras cautioned. While there are definitely times when such animals should be brought to a wildlife rehabilitator or clinic, its always best done by people who have been trained to do this, or who can give someone appropriate advice on how to help the animals safely, Pokras added. Although we appreciate it . when people go out of their way to assist wild animals, we dont want caring people to get sick or injured in the ' process. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated Tufts Wildlife Clinic the of- - J ficial New England treatment center for the care of rare and endangered species. , , , ing the host and replacing it overwinter in plant materia with a plant more suited to diseased branches or leave the area would eliminate de- should be removed and de velopment of diseases specif- stroyed before the pathoge ic to stressed quaking ashas a chance to spread. Roc diseases that develop in we pens. Plant selection is one way soils are eliminated by creal to effectively control many ing good drainage o diseases. Modifying the envi- rescheduling irrigation. Dis ronment is another way to eases that favor high humid create conditions that are un- ty, such as powdery mildew favorable for disease devel- can be reduced by thinnin or spacing plants opment, said Cox. If certain fungal diseases proper air circulation. Take the time to correct! develop in cool, moist condishould identify the disease and th tions, gardeners avoid overwatering during plant that is affected. Thi cool periods in the spring will help tremendously in d and fall, she continued. If a termining control measure: disease has a tendency to Cox concluded. to-all- |