Noxious Weeds

An outreach and education trailer that used to be known as the weed wagon has transformed into a vibrant vehicle called the Invasive Species Education Station:

You may see it at this year’s State Fair or one of Central Oregon’s upcoming county fairs. You might even see it rambling down the highway as a billboard on wheels. The Invasive Species Education Station is an outreach trailer that has received a major facelift this summer, according to Tristen Berg of the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s Noxious Weed Control Program:

 BERG: “Before when you drove by, it was just a plain old trailer that said Education Weed Wagon. Obviously, now with the legalization of marijuana, last year at their county fair in Central Oregon, it brought about a lot of odd questions about what they were there for. Was it marijuana and cannabis or were you invasive weeds?”

 The trailer’s new exterior now invites the public to come inside for more information on all sorts of invasive species, including noxious weeds. The vehicle belongs to Deschutes County but is being loaned, free of charge, to those who want to help spread awareness about not spreading invasive species, says ODA’s Tim Butler:

 BUTLER: “I think that this is something that is certainly attention getting. People are going to look at it and go, oh well, I didn’t think about that. Maybe I need to get more information about invasive species.” 

I understand that this is a strictly Oregon story but Idaho, Washington and Colorado all have very aggressive invasive species watchdog operations and Oregon's effort effort might be useful for other states to learn from.
 
Inside the trailer will be brochures, posters, weed displays, and experts who can help the public identify specific noxious weeds and other invasive species. Even if you don’t step inside, the messages on the trailer’s exterior are clear and include the theme “Come Clean, Leave Clean” as a reminder to avoid spreading invasive species in Oregon.