By U.S. Senator Deb Fischer
Most holidays commemorate a piece of history. We often remember a winning battle, the birth of a consequential leader, or the founding of a nation. But on the last Friday of April, we look to the future with hope and action. On Arbor Day, we plant trees with optimism that tomorrow’s world can be healthier and more beautiful than the world today. And remarkably, that idea was born right here in Nebraska.
Many Nebraskans learned this in school, but the full story is worth telling again.
In the 1800s, thousands of pioneers left the East Coast to flee disease, land scarcity, and religious persecution in search of a better life out West. When they crossed into Nebraska Territory, they were met with a surprise: an ocean of grass, stretching endlessly in every direction, with almost no trees in sight. For the pioneers, this felt like a crisis. Trees provided fuel and building materials, broke the wind to keep tilled soil in place, and offered shade from the summer sun. Without them, these pioneers faced numerous challenges.
J. Sterling Morton, who at the time was the editor of the Nebraska City News, wrote articles to make the case for planting more trees. When he eventually became Secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he used his platform to amplify this idea.
In 1872, Morton proposed a single day dedicated to planting trees, which he called Arbor Day. The state offered prizes to counties and individuals who planted the most trees, and the response was staggering. On that very first Arbor Day, Nebraskans planted an estimated 1 million trees.
Two years later, Nebraska Gov. Robert W. Furnas officially declared Arbor Day a state celebration. By 1885, it was a legal holiday, and the idea had already begun spreading beyond Nebraska’s borders. More than 140 years later, Nebraska is home to roughly 1.3 million acres of timberland, and Arbor Day is now observed in all 50 states and many countries around the world.
This year, I encourage you to consider making the trip to where it all began. Nebraska City has been celebrating this holiday for more than 150 years, and the spirit of it remains very much alive. Arbor Day Farm’s annual celebration runs April 24–26, and the 260-acre farm feels like exactly the kind of place Morton had in mind: a living tribute to what a deep devotion can build over generations.
Arbor Day is a declaration that the future is worth investing in. It might not have been common knowledge in the 1840s, but now we know that planting trees significantly boosts community well-being. Trees improve air quality, lower the risk of flooding, mitigate energy consumption, reduce respiratory issues, limit noise pollution, and provide numerous mental health benefits. So, plant a tree this April. The benefits are plentiful not just for our planet, but for your well-being and for your community.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
