Broadwater County 5th Grade Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest
Author: Linda Southall, Townsend Tree Board
Broadwater County 5th Grade Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest
Linda Southall
Townsend Tree Board
Dear homeschool, parochial school or private school student and parents:
The weather has been weird the last few months. It doesn't seem to know what season should be appearing. The calendar indicates that spring is here. With the coming of spring, some people are thinking of Arbor Day.
In Broadwater County, Arbor Day is partly celebrated with the Broadwater County fifth-grade Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest. In 2004, the Townsend Tree Board began this competition to raise kids' awareness of trees and their importance to the kids themselves and to the community. In other words, kids need to be asking the following questions. Why are trees important to me? What do trees do for my community and me? The local tree board wants fifth-grade students to participate in the above contest, not only to further their understanding and appreciation for trees, but also to win some tangible awards.
All fifth graders who participate in the Broadwater County fifth-grade Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest will receive a gift coupon for a scoop of ice cream from The Mint Cafe. There will be three top winners in this competition. The third-place winner will be presented with a $20 check from the City of Townsend. The second-place winner will get a $30 check from the City. Finally, the first-place winner will be rewarded with a $50 check. The top-placing student will receive a framed picture of his or her poster as a keepsake. Another framed picture of the top poster will be made to be displayed at either the Townsend Elementary School or the Townsend City Hall.
The theme of the 2026 Broadwater County fifth-grade Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest is "Trees have helped grow America for 250 years". This theme coincides with our nation's 250th birthday. Trees have been used to build America. Native Americans used wood products from trees.
For example, Great Plains Indians used wooden poles to stabilize their tipis or tepees. They made hunting spears and arrows from wood. They pulled killed buffalo on wooden platforms called travois. As European settlers moved westward from the eastern seaboard of the United States, they used wood products for log cabins, covered wagons, and cooking and heating fuel.
John Chapman, known better as Johnny Appleseed, planted apple trees and gave away apple seeds and sprouts. He wanted not only to build the tree population, but also to feed people. In 1872 (nearly 100 years after Johnny Appleseed was born), the state of Nebraska celebrated its first Arbor Day. It was founded with the great help of Julius Sterling Morton, a newspaper publisher, who saw the need for planting trees as a way of preventing major soil erosion and keeping nutrients and moisture in the soil.
You, fifth-grade child, have been aided by trees to grow. Do you eat apples and oranges? These are fruits from trees that help you grow. Do you assist your family in getting firewood? Firewood will keep you warm and growing. Do you hunt or hike? Being out in the woods among the trees will help develop or grow your mind, body and soul.
If you, fifth-grade student, are interested in participating in the Broadwater County fifth-grade Arbor Day Tree Poster Contest, please have your parents or guardian contact me, Linda Southall, at (406) 266-3863. I can mail you a packet that will include the rules and schedule for the competition.
Posters are due on April 23, 2026, by 4:00 pm at the Townsend Elementary School.
It is my hope that you will take part in this tree poster contest, which helps celebrate our nation's 250th birthday.
