Arbor Day Poster Contest
2008 Poster Contest Theme
About Arbor Day
“Acts of creation are ordinarily reserved for gods and poets.
To plant a pine, one only needs a shovel.”
...
Aldo Leopold
How Arbor Day Started
Arbor Day is the holiday Nebraska gave to the world. The first celebration of Arbor Day
took place on April 10, 1872. The idea for Arbor Day originally came from
a pioneer moving to Nebraska from Detroit, Michigan. His name was J. Sterling
Morton. Upon arrival in Nebraska, his heart was dispirited from the lack
of trees. He and his wife were nature lovers, and the home they established
in Nebraska was quickly planted with trees, shrubs and flowers. Morton
was the editor of Nebraska's first newspaper. As an early proponent of
forestation, he used this platform to promote "tree plantings"
in cities and towns. He organized a contest in which the prize, "a
farm library of twenty-five dollars worth of books to the person who,
on that day, shall plant properly, in Nebraska, the greatest number of
trees." Nearly one million trees were planted that first Arbor Day.
The winner on the prize was one J. D. Smith, who planted an unbelievable
35,500 trees in one day. In 1885 the Nebraska State Legislature named
Arbor Day a legal holiday and selected April 22, Morton's birthday, as
the date for its permanent observance.
Today, all states
memorialize Arbor Day by legislation, official proclamation or public
acclaim, although the dates vary according to local climate. Officially,
the last Friday in April is celebrated as National Arbor Day. Arbor Day
has now spread beyond the United States and is observed in many countries
of the world. In some countries, it is the king or queen who leads the
national celebration and in many countries exotic trees not suited to
North America are planted in commemoration of the day.
Idaho celebrates
Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, the traditionally accepted date.
However, many communities in Idaho choose to celebrate the holiday on
different dates due to weather considerations or other factors. The Idaho
Department of Lands, in cooperation with U. S. Bank, offers an Arbor Day
grant to provide financial assistance to communities for celebrating the
holiday. Additionally, an Arbor Day Poster Contest is administered in
the state school districts to help Idaho children learn about the importance
of trees to the community they live in.
J. Sterling Morton
also originated the idea of using trees as memorials. He believed trees
are much superior to cold marble as memorials to persons or events. He
said, "How much more enduring are the animate trees of our own planting."
The celebration of
Arbor Day represents a priceless opportunity. Planting trees is an act
of kindness and optimism. Trees purify our water and remove pollutants
from our air. Additionally, trees provide beauty for both the natural
and constructed landscapes, shade to cool a sun-warmed brow, wind breaks
that aid energy conservation, shelter and food for wildlife. Trees are
essential for soil conservation in a windy place.
J. Sterling Morton was proud of the success of Arbor Day and noted,
"Other holidays repose upon the past.
Arbor Day proposes for the future."
Celebrate Arbor Day