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Students Lobby for a New State Tree

Judy Fahys

A group of concerned school kids made their way to the Utah State Capitol Tuesday to ask lawmakers to change one of the state’s symbols. 

Fourth-grade lobbyists say Utah needs a new state tree.  Members of Mrs. Blomquist’s class from Monroe Elementary in Sevier County pressed their case at the Capitol. Nine of the students told senators why the Colorado blue spruce should make way for the quaking aspen.

“The quaking aspen is self-pruning,” said Neomi Avery, “They take care of themselves just like Utah citizens.”

“I am Matthew Pearson,” said the student, “and I think we should change the state tree because an aspen grove has strong roots that work together like Utah’s families.”

The 4th-graders already have some high-powered support for their bill. Gov. Gary Herbert said he was on board during last week’s State of the State address. Two researchers from Utah State University testified that aspens grow in every Utah county. They also say the 106-acre Pando colony in central Utah is one organism, probably the largest single organism in the world.  Brian Cottam is Utah’s State Forester. He also supports the bill.

“From a management perspective, our aspen forests are in trouble,” said Cottam. “By passing this bill, it gives me some management guidance.”

Other state symbols include the state rock, coal, and the state cooking pot, the Dutch oven. A similar change has occurred before. The state vegetable was switched from the sugar beet to the Spanish sweet onion.

Judy Fahys has reported in Utah for two decades, covering politics, government and business before taking on environmental issues. She loves covering Utah, where petroleum-pipeline spills, the nation’s radioactive legacy and other types of pollution provide endless fodder for stories. Previously, she worked for the Salt Lake Tribune in Utah, and reported on the nation’s capital for States News Service and the Scripps League newspaper chain. She is a longtime member of the Society of Environmental Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors. She also spent an academic year as a research fellow in the Knight Science Journalism program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In her spare time, she enjoys being out in the environment, especially hiking, gardening and watercolor painting.
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