Wednesday morning, surrounded by a number of trees in the north greenhouse, a number of representatives from the Kansas Forest Service and the Kansas Pipeline Association were present for a celebration.
Larry Biles, state forester, had met with the Kansas Pipeline Association a couple of months ago to present a need they had for a new greenhouse.
Michael Potvin, president of the Kansas Pipeline Association, along with others from the association decided to make a contribution to the Kansas Forest Service and the Conservation Trees Program.
On Wednesday, Potvin presented Biles a check for $60,000 for the greenhouse because like those who are working for the Kansas Forest Service, the pipeline association is also part of the community.
“It was almost a no brainer and became very important to us to realize that we need to give back,” Potvin said. “As companies, we want to give back to those communities we live in and those that we serve. And so, we became aware of the need for a new green house and as a group we unanimously voted to help the forest service build that new green house.”
Other members from the Kansas Forest Service talked about the use of the trees to help preserve the Kansas landscape in way of wind breaks, wildlife habitats, erosion control along with other uses.