Winter 2017

Don't mess with Texas Trash-Off

Mark your calendar for this year’s Don’t mess with Texas Trash-Off! On Saturday April 8, thousands of Texans will participate in the single largest one-day cleanup event in the state. Adopt-a-Highway groups can contact their district coordinator for more information. Individual participants can register via Keep Texas Beautiful.

Don't mess with Texas
K-12 Art Contest

It’s time to enter the 2017 Art Contest! This year the program will accept artwork from Texas students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th grade. Students who illustrate their passion for a beautiful, litter-free environment and create one of the top 13 winning designs will have their artwork featured in the 2018 Don’t mess with Texas calendar. Each winner will also receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 7.0 donated by H-E-B and Central Market. Teachers representing students who create the top 13 designs will win a $100 H-E-B/Central Market gift card.

All entries must be submitted or postmarked by April 7, 2017. For entry form and agreement, visit the Don't mess with Texas website.

Winter Pickups

Texas winters are unpredictable and vary depending on where you live in the Lone Star State. Adopt-a-Highway urges its volunteer groups to put safety first when performing cleanups during the fickle winter months.

Wear appropriate clothing. Volunteers should always wear closed-toe shoes, pants and long-sleeve T-shirts. But remember to add extra layers if temperatures are cool.
Practice common sense and postpone cleanups if necessary. If there is snow on the ground, the roads are icy or it’s raining and the ground is soggy, it’s best to wait until conditions improve.
Drink enough water and wear sunscreen. Groups need to supply enough water to prevent dehydration of volunteers as they work outside. Wearing sunscreen during extended periods outdoors helps prevent damage by UV rays even when it’s cold or cloudy.

El Paso AAH Group Turns Trash Into Treasure

It's Your World Art Project

The El Dorado High School and It's Your World Team in El Paso, Texas, is transforming trash and their community one piece of litter at a time. From August through October, the Adopt-a-Highway group performed ten pickups along a four-mile stretch of desert roadway and collected more than 300 bags of trash. The group, made up of high school students and led by art teacher Ms. Candace Printz, works with the community to upcycle trash to create art, jewelry, planters and more.

The goal of the project is to educate, bring awareness and spark action from students and citizens about the impact of illegal dumping and its effect on the environment. As part of the project, free public art workshops are available to showcase what can be done with “trash.” In addition, a region-wide recycled art contest will be held followed by a traveling art exhibit of the winning pieces.

El Dorado High School Students

The initiative began as a contest proposal for the “Get Going Day with Chelsea Clinton Contest” to create a positive impact in the El Paso community. The project won the contest and received a visit from Clinton last April.

AAH Team Spotlight: Stephanie Fahrney

Atlanta Adopt-a-Highway District Coordinator Stephanie Fahrney manages 131 groups out of the Atlanta District in northeast Texas. As coordinator for the past six years, Stephanie believes the program is important in helping to reduce litter pickup costs and in keeping the traveling public safe. The highlight, however, is working with eager and dedicated volunteers and recognizing them for their contributions. “Adopt-a-Highway brings out the good in people,” Fahrney said.

An Atlanta, Texas, native, Fahrney loves small-town life. She spends most of her free time being a coach, cheerleader, chauffeur and more for her two children and their busy sports schedule.