Students from Sutter Union High School’s FBLA chapter display the finished historical marker installed as part of their countywide local history project on Feb. 12 near the Sutter Buttes. Photo courtesy of Chris Pedigo

SUTTER COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Sutter Union High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter has completed a countywide community service project focused on preserving and promoting local history through the installation of informational signs, distribution of travel brochures and classroom presentations.

In August 2025, the chapter launched its yearlong project, “Landmarks of Legacy,” after student officers identified what they described as a gap in awareness among young people about Sutter County’s history. The group set out to create educational resources that highlight significant sites and make that information more accessible to residents and students.

The project spans the county from Meridian to Yuba City. Chapter members designed and installed seven 36-by-18-inch informational marker signs at historical locations. The sites include the Sutter Buttes Mountain Range at Larry Munger Vista Point; the historic water trough on Butte House Road just before entering Sutter; the Sutter Train Depot in Close Lumber’s parking lot in Sutter; the Sutter Cemetery; the Butte Slough School in Meridian; the Long Bridge in Meridian; and Sunsweet Growers Inc. in Yuba City.

Members of the Sutter Union High School FBLA Community Service Committee install one of seven historical markers as part of the chapter’s “Landmarks of Legacy” project on Feb. 12 near the Sutter Buttes. Photo courtesy of Chris Pedigo

In addition to the markers, the chapter created a travel-guide brochure that is stocked in local businesses and at the Sutter County Museum. Members of the FBLA Community Service Committee are also giving presentations at local K-8 schools to discuss the importance of local history and provide information about the featured sites.

To determine the project locations, committee members made multiple visits to the Sutter County Museum and researched historical sites throughout the county. With assistance from museum director Molly Bloom, the group identified seven locations of historical significance. Garrett Fremd, the chapter’s vice president and community service project lead, completed the writing and design of each sign using information sourced from Sutter County Museum bulletins.

The project involved several departments at Sutter Union High School as well as community partners. Metal shop students constructed the metal frames for the signs. The school’s digital marketing class designed the travel brochure.

Sutter Union High School FBLA students pose with a newly installed historical marker highlighting the Sutter Buttes Mountain Range on Feb. 12. Photo courtesy of Chris Pedigo

To fund the effort, the FBLA Community Service Committee, including Fremd, Dominique Madrigal, chairman of community service, and Scarlett Oechsle, chairman of competition, delivered presentations to numerous local organizations and raised $6,250.

Community partners and donors included the Early Risers Kiwanis Club of Yuba City, the Rotary Club of Yuba City, the Sutter Lions Club, the Peach Bowl Lions Club, the Joe and Brenda Morehead family, Tom and Robin Walther of Yuba City and Sutter County Supervisor Jeffrey K. Boone.

Sutter FBLA partnered with Sapphire Marketing and Sign Co. in Yuba City to print the historical signs and worked with Escalera Inc. in Yuba City to powder coat the frames. Members of the Sutter FBLA officer team and chapter installed the signs this month.