16
| January/February 2016
Davey employees talk trees with students at Western Kentucky University.
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
When Dr. Martin Stone determined it was time to remove a large, multi-stem,
50- to 70-year-old ash tree from the Western Kentucky University (WKU)
arboretum, Davey's Joe Shaw determined it was also a perfect opportunity to
educate students.
Shaw, a recruiter/trainer, has worked with WKU horticulture and agriculture
programs within the last few years. Last spring, he and Stone identified the
ash tree during a presentation on tree risk assessment.
"The ash tree had been in decline over the past few years, and emerald ash
borer (EAB) has had a presence in the area – Bowling Green, Kentucky," Shaw
says. Although the tree did not appear to have EAB, he and Stone determined
it was not worth trying to treat its existing decline while also trying to prevent
an EAB infestation.
As a result of his relationship with the university and its professors, Shaw received
permission to not only speak to Stone's horticulture and agriculture students but
also to visit the arboretum on campus and perform a tree removal demonstration
on the ash tree.
Nearly 40 students cycled through the day's activities, which continued through
the afternoon. "I recruited Nashville R/C's Rob Kraker and Cincinnati R/C's Jackson
McClain to help me with the removal," Shaw says, adding the crew explained
certain services for which Davey is responsible, as well as demonstrated how to
remove trees properly and professionally.
"We explained the physics and dynamics of tree removal and rigging techniques,"
Shaw says. He recalls questions from several students throughout the day, such
as, "How does Davey go about determining what is safe?"
Upon completing the tree removal, Shaw led a tree climbing demonstration
elsewhere within the arboretum.
POSITIVI-TREE AT ITS FINEST
Laramie Stone, a horticulture senior from
Bowling Green, Kentucky, enjoys the view
from above.
Nearly 40 students took part in the
climbing exercise.
Erik Mikulcik, a WKU presidential scholar,
tries out climbing.
MY DAVEY
