WHEATLAND – Local students were challenged on their knowledge of trees and local parks during an Arbor Day assembly on Friday.

Though a couple questions “stumped” the fourth graders at West Elementary, they knew many facts about trees and their benefits. The students were also quick to answer a couple tree jokes shared by the mayor. Wheatland mayor, Brandon Graves, along with parks department director, Toby Hohnholt, and assistant, Jason Niemi, shared the Arbor Day Foundation has helped plant more than 500 million trees in over 50 countries since it was started in 1972. However, the very first Arbor Day was celebrated in 1872.

A resolution was adopted by the town proclaiming the celebration of Arbor Day on Friday, April 26, recognizing the benefits of trees and “encouraging citizens to actively support tree planting and protection as a means to improve our community and the quality of our lives.”

The Town of Wheatland has been awarded the title of Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 24 years in recognition of the town’s dedication to maintaining and improving urban forestry throughout the community.

Fifty Northern Pecan trees were donated by the town so each student could take home a tree to care for and enjoy for years to come.