Gov. Jim Pillen marked Arbor Day on Friday by helping children from Trinity Child Care Center plant an American Linden tree on the southwest lawn of the Nebraska State Capitol.
The event, organized by the Nebraska Capitol Commission, included the children leading the Pledge of Allegiance, the reading of the official Arbor Day proclamation, and remarks from conservation and state leaders.
Pillen emphasized the importance of passing down stewardship values to future generations, saying Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers set the example for sustainable land care.
Speakers noted the state’s unique connection to Arbor Day, which began in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in 1872 with the planting of more than one million trees.