Davey Tree Flipbooks

November/December 2015 | 17 Jim Savage, Penn State University urban forestry professor; and Chad Clink, Holden Arboretum arborist. Noark says all volunteers were necessary to make this event such a success. "Our goal is to build relationships, engage with the community and inspire future arborists," Noark says. "It's important to invest early in youth for the future of our industry." Noark says safety and professionalism is paramount when working with children. "It's very important to open kids' eyes to a future in arboriculture, especially if they are not interested in the traditional four-year college experience," Noark says. He adds events like this help Davey create community ambassadors and earn respect for what employees do. "The kids' climb was a perfect opportunity to engage community members and get everyone involved; plus, it was a lot of fun." Davey retiree Bruce Semeria (third from left, back row), Paul Herb (third from right, back row) and Mark Noark (far right, front row) stand proud with Penn State University forestry program volunteers in celebration of another successful Ag Progress Day kids' climb in 2015. Kid's Climb No. 3: Ag Progress Day at Penn State University Davey joined 42,000 total farmers, scientists, engineers and community members to celebrate the past, present and future of agriculture advancements at Penn State University's Annual Ag Progress Day— the largest outdoor agriculture exposition in Pennsylvania. This popular three-day event offered something for the whole family— with more than 80 acres of crop and farm machinery demonstrations and 55 acres of indoor and outdoor exhibits, including Penn State's annual kids' climb, which Davey supports each year. Chris Klimas, operations manager of the Mid-Atlantic region, R/C services, has recruited Davey volunteers for this event since 2002. This was the first year Klimas was unable to attend the event ever since Davey started helping Penn State University Urban Forestry Professor Jim Savage facilitate the kids' climb 13 years ago. But Klimas' crew, including Mark Noark, manager of recruiting and training; Todd Sherbondy, district manager at the East Pittsburgh R/C office; Paul Herb, recruiter/trainer; and Bruce Semeria, Davey retiree with 46 years of service, came together and helped host a successful event in his absence. "This is a very family-oriented event," Klimas says. "We've had anywhere from infants to 80-year-old grandmas try to climb the trees throughout the years." Klimas adds many Davey employees' family members took on the tree-climbing challenge at this event, including his two children, starting in 2002. Penn State's kids' climb, supported by Davey, challenged more than 1,500 children to safely climb one of two 60-foot white oak trees this year. Volunteers set up to six climbing stations at the two designated trees, with at least one or two Davey employees at most stations, to provide as many children the opportunity to climb during the three-day event. "Each year we see the same kids come back and climb; it's amazing seeing their progress and watch them grow up to be stronger climbers," Sherbondy says. "It's a great way to get the word out about what we do in the green industry." Klimas says that Davey's name has become synonymous with this event after continuously showing up for so many years; attendees have noticed and appreciate our consistent support. "You can't buy that kind of exposure," Sherbondy adds. "There's no better way to fuel our industry than showing up to these events and demon- strating what we do to the children who will one day run our industry." Todd Sherbondy assists children during a kids' climb at Penn State University's Annual Ag Progress Day.

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