In the aftermath of a devastating wildfire that swept through the vicinity of her city, Morgan Noorda, a former FFA state president, showed what it means to be an FFA member. A leader in her community and working alongside her chapter, Noorda helped to plant 10,000 sagebrush seedlings across her county as part of her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
After a fire, burned areas — often dry, rocky, and unreachable — can have a hard time bouncing back. The key to ecological succession?
Sagebrush.
Sagebrush is vital to Nevada due to its rich history and agricultural uses. It is also the Nevada state flower, representing resilience and healing. Native Nevada settlers relied on it for herbal uses. The plant is known to be made into teas that cure headaches, colds, fevers, and other illnesses. Functioning as a “nurse plant,” sagebrush creates improved conditions for the growth of other plant species, enhancing soil water retention and providing an essential habitat for desert-dwelling animals like sage-grouse and many lizard species. In the case of the sage-grouse, living only in specific areas, and the sagebrush in their only habitat.
In the wake of a destructive wildfire near Elko, Nevada, Wells FFA dedicated its time, effort, and plants to the area’s restoration. The students at Wells High School had been growing seedlings in their greenhouse, which they carefully transplanted into the burned areas, working alongside other volunteers. Working together, Noorda and her chapter helped to repair the damaged ecosystem, a difficult task in such a harsh environment.
Noorda’s SAE was quite literally ground-breaking, and she left her mark on Nevada.
