4-H Club repaints recycling center ramps and platforms
Since May of 2022, the Keuterville Livestock 4-H Club has volunteered to help once per month at the Idaho County Recycling – Cottonwood site across the street from the grain elevators. (The Greencreek Active Workers 4-H Club has done the same.)
During the depths of last winter, the Keuterville group decided they would like to take on an extra community service project. Member Sam Rehder, who is the son of Amanda and Chris Rehder and is 12 years old, volunteered to take the lead on this and contacted Kristin Frish, the Cottonwood site manager. They quickly agreed that the two wooden platforms were in much need of attention. As the months passed, they collaborated on a plan for scraping and then painting the platforms. Among the challenges they dealt with were no electricity or water at the site, gathering all needed tools and supplies, and scheduling the volunteer kids/parents around weather and swimming lessons and vacations.
The warm evening of July 20 saw 12 volunteers (7 kids and 5 parents) with scrapers descend on the two platforms. It took about 3.5 hours to complete the scraping. During this time, Sam accepted some good-natured joshing about whose big idea this was! Then, after a check of the weather forecast, two painting crews were scheduled for July 31 – one at 7 AM for the first coat and one at 7 PM for the second coat. The morning crew of 4 kids and 3 parents had some prep work to do before painting. A vacuum cleaner and a leaf-blower were used to remove any loose dirt and then all surfaces were wiped with damp rags to ensure that the paint would stick. After 3.5 hours and 4 whole gallons of paint/primer, the first coat was on. The evening crew was larger (13 kids and 4 parents) so the second coat went quickly with 1.5 gallons used in 2 hours. The kids then picked up the white paint scrapings to tidy the site.
Thanks to all the 4-H members and their parents who played both large and small parts in this facelift. And thanks to our wonderful local Gem Builders Supply for discounting our paint (this was especially helpful because we used a lot more paint than anticipated!). Stop by and see the “new” platforms.