HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Lee & Associates – Houston, a commercial real estate firm, has found an unexpected way to support local youth and farm animals.
The company has been donating its used for-sale plywood signs to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) program at Cy‑Fair Independent School District in suburban Houston.
The red-and-white signs proved valuable for more than advertising. Made of sturdy plywood, they were repurposed as windbreaks and temporary pen walls to reinforce livestock enclosures. The materials became critically important during the extreme winter storm in February, when Texas experienced record-low temperatures.
FFA students installed the donated signs to shield animals from cold winds and to add insulation to their pens. According to Lee & Associates, the measures helped protect many animals through the storm, and students credit the signs with saving the lives of several pigs and goats ahead of their auction.
“The students were able to secure the signs just in time before the storm hit and used them to help protect animals at the Ag Barn from the harsh weather. This resulted in helping numerous animals through the conditions, saving their lives a week prior to their auction,” Lee & Associates said. “Ultimately, the FFA students were able to show their work and secure the scholarships they have been working toward this school year.”
Lee & Associates and its sign supplier, Tasman Sign & Graphic, plan to continue the donation program, said Mike Spears, Managing Principal of Lee & Associates – Houston.
In the Houston market, Lee & Associates typically deploys roughly 500 large signs across office buildings, land, warehouses and other commercial properties. After months of exposure to sun and weather, those plywood signs often become worn, warped or damaged.
Rather than discarding them, donating the old signs to the FFA provides a practical, sustainable reuse. The program repurposes materials that would otherwise be thrown away and gives students a low-cost way to protect animals and improve their facilities.
“This,” Spears said, “is a great way to recycle.”
April 30, 2021 Realty News Report Copyright 2021
Photo: Cypress Ranch High School FFA Livestock
