Arbor Day was originally founded in Nebraska by Sterling J. Morton in 1872. Herriman City is keeping this tradition alive by planting trees annually at various elementaries in the city. By doing this, the city is maintaining its status as Tree City USA.
Ty Nielsen, Herriman City arborist, has been working with several elementaries in Herriman to plant trees every Arbor Day. This year there were four schools involved: Silver Crest Elementary, Herriman Elementary, Butterfield Elementary and Providence Hall Elementary.Each of these schools received a Redbud tree to plant on the school property.
As part of the Arbor Day celebration, Silver Crest Elementary students participated in two contests. Each of the winners of the first, an essay contest, was awarded a small redbud tree to plant at home.
The other contest was a poster contest which Carson Shaffer, a third grader, won. His poster took first place in the state competition.
Carson was honored at a special ceremony at Red Butte Garden on April 29. His poster was hung at the garden along with other posters from winners around the state. Each participant in the contest was presented with a tree to take home.
Silver Crest Elementary has been participating in the Herriman City tradition for the past two years. Herriman Elementary has been participating for three years, Butterfield for five years, and Providence Hall for two years.
As part of the presentation of the tree, Nielsen gave a slide presentation to the students. He taught the students the importance of having trees as well as what trees really do. Trees create shade, food and oxygen. He explained to the students that it takes 25 trees to make one ton of paper.
Nielsen also donated a copy of the book "I Can Name 50 Trees Today" to each school.
Nielsen was able to get the students and the teachers involved in the presentation.
"Each year they get a new kind of tree," he said. "Last year they got an oak. There are about 40 different types of trees in Herriman. We're trying to diversify with a new tree each year."
At Silver Crest, the student council was able to help plant the tree. Nielsen had already dug the hole, but let the students help him bury the tree roots.
"It's cold, but still fun," Sage Obray, one of the student council members, said. Sage was also one of the essay winners and was able to take home her own redbud tree to plant. Each year the trees are purchased by the city.
"It's part of the requirements of becoming Tree City USA to plant trees every year," Nielsen said. Nielsen is proud to be able to share the importance of Arbor Day with students every year.
By Alisha Tondro for The South Valley
Published in April 2011 in Riverton, Utah
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| The student council at Silver Crest elementary helped Ty Nielson, Herriman City Arborist, to plant a redbud tree at their school. Students include: Zach Edgington, Emma Peterson, Jaden Berthoud, Aliya Samowitz, Samantha Samowitz, Ryker Eggenberger, Wyatt Crosland, Jayden Sorensen, Camille Leiter, London Rindlisbacher, Caden Bailey, Matthew Larsen, Conner Lee, Georgya Brewster, Saige Obray, and Adisyn Dutson |
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