Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2005

Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Donates to Penn State University Forest Resources Building

Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association (PCTGA) donated $10,000 to Penn State University’s Forest Resources Building at the October 11th Agricultural Council meeting held in State College. PCTGA President, Mark McCurdy and Reed Zimmer, PCTGA Board of Directors member, presented the check to Bob Steele, Dean of PSU College of Agricultural Sciences, and Richard Yahne, Professor of Wildlife in the School of Forestry. 

PCTGA hopes that this donation will benefit those researchers and students that continue to positively impact the Christmas tree industry.  PCTGA member, Donald “Moose” Craul of Maple Hill Farms states that this donation also serves as a thank-you for the support that the School of Forest Resources has provided Christmas tree growers for over 50 years.

The new Forest Resources Building will allow all three professional programs of the School of Forest Resources—forest science, wildlife and fisheries science, and wood products—to be housed under one roof. It will feature four teaching labs, two technology classrooms, a 150-seat-capacity auditorium, computer labs, and a GIS lab for graduate students. A major set of research laboratories has been designed for the various disciplines within forestry, fisheries, water resources, wildlife, and wood products.

The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association (PCTGA), with over 400 members, works to promote and develop a community of interest among growers of Christmas trees in Pennsylvania and adjoining states, as well as to raise public awareness about Christmas trees.  PCTGA is an active participant in PA-Preferred, a program promoting Pennsylvania agriculture. To learn more about PA Preferred and products, visit www.papreferred.com. PCTGA belongs to the National Christmas Tree Growers Association (NCTA), an association with more than 5,100 professionals.  To find a Christmas tree grower near you, and for more information from the Pennsylvania Christmas tree authority, visit www.christmastrees.org.

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Editors Note: Photo of the check presentation is available. Please contact Bethany Dennis, PCTGA Communications Manager, (717) 238-9765, communications@christmastrees.org

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MEDIA CONTACT:    Bethany Dennis, 717.238.9765, communications@christmastree.org