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Our Appreciation To APS
Mr. Mike Scudder
Arizona Public Service
6700 East 30th Street
Yuma, Arizona 85365
Dear Mike Scudder:
Several years ago we had an idea to display field crop signs in our agricultural area to let the public know what crop was growing on some fields. This would require the cooperation of many people and/or organizations as all of the signs would have to be changed at least 2 times each year for crop rotation. We talked to many farmers and landowners to get permission to erect a sign near their field. And then of course we had to determine how to pay for the signs and posts for installation.
In 2002 the Arizona Department of Agriculture, through funding from the U. S. Department of Agriculture, offered specialty crop grants for educational and community purposes. The Yuma Area Ag Council applied for a grant for this project and was awarded the money to see the idea through to completion. The signs were ordered and we began installing them by the fields selected for identification. Apparently we did not thoroughly check out our sign locations, as the Arizona Department of Transportation removed all of our signs because they were on the Highway 95 ADOT right-of-way. The state of Arizona has very strict rules and laws regarding signage along any state highway. We were denied any special consideration for our project, and decided to place the signs closer to the fields, off of the ADOT right-of-way. This would put the signs more in danger of being damaged or destroyed by the farm equipment working in the field, but we were determined to get the signs up again.
Before we began replacing the signs, one of the Ag Council’s members asked Mike Scudder, Operations and Maintenance Supervisor for Arizona Public Service, if we could get APS permission to put our signs on their utility poles along highway 95. Mike made a formal request for us and APS granted us the permission to use their poles. After the hanging mechanism was designed and produced, the signs again became a reality. So, today you can see over 30 Yuma Area Ag Council field crop signs, that inform the public of the currently crowing crop in the field, posted on APS utility poles along Highway 95 and Highway 80.
We are extremely proud of this project and cannot begin to express our appreciation to the many people who made it happen. Particularly our deepest appreciation is extended to Mr. Mike Scudder and Arizona Public Service for allowing this project to be completed.
Sincerely,
Yuma Area Ag Council
By: Doug Mellon, President
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