College of Western Idaho (CWI) is proud to take part in the Canyon County Festival of Trees [2], a long-standing community tradition dedicated to raising funds for homebound seniors throughout Canyon County. Since 1994, the festival has brightened the holiday season with beautifully decorated trees and family-friendly activities while generating vital support for the Meals on Wheels programs serving Nampa, Caldwell, Greenleaf, Middleton, Melba, Parma, and surrounding communities.  

CWI’s contribution this year featured a one-of-a-kind holiday tree inspired by students from the Horticulture Technology program, designed to celebrate both gardening and the cultivation of growing minds. The theme, Springtime Prep, highlighted the joy of preparing for a season of renewal. This 7.5-foot Valencia fir tree glowed with 800 color-changing twinkle LED lights and was adorned with vegetable ornaments, galvanized buckets, gardening tools, miniature greenhouse, seed packets, and rustic finishing touches. Horticulture Technology students, Amalie Bolinder and Victoria Boucher, led the design and planning of the display, which also included a $100 gift card to the CWI Annual Plant Sale.  

“It was so fun to watch the Horticulture students come together and decorate a tree for this year’s Canyon County Festival of Trees,” said Assistant Dean of Agricultural Sciences, Andrea Schumaker. “I love watching the students share the joys of the green industry with others during this holiday season, and what a wonderful way to highlight it! Their garden-themed tree turned out beautiful!"