Arbor Day tradition aims to plant trees in the ground while easing political tensions on Capitol Hill

Signs of early spring are everywhere as a chorus of birds echoes on Rep. Rick Hansen’s hobby farm in the southeastern Minnesota suburb of Harmony.

The DFL chairman of the House Environment Committee, a native of South St. Paul, trudges up the hills on the property where his mother grew up and whose family dates back to the late 1800s. He pointed to a tree he planted in his first year in Congress.

“I fill in the holes with trees I got at Arbor Day,” Hansen said with a laugh, noting that not all the trees he planted survived the elements. “It’s part of the circle of life.”

The Arbor Day tree he mentions is part of a Minnesota House tradition that began decades ago. Two Democrats and two Republicans recognized the importance of forestry in the state and began distributing seedlings to provide some respite from the partisan conflict.

“People are planting trees, whether it’s in the pine forests of the north, in the old countryside down here, or in the cottonwood meadows. [is] I think that’s something Minnesotans pass on from generation to generation,” Hansen said.

The four councilors split the cost, and for the past few years they have been purchasing from Schumacher Nursery School in Heron Lake. On Thursday, lawmakers plan to distribute three types of wildlife-friendly trees: black cherry, cranberry bush and white oak.

A deep-rooted tradition

The first recognized Arbor Day in the United States was in Nebraska in 1872. Minnesota adopted this tradition four years later. By the 1920s, states passed laws regarding Arbor Day observances.

The Minnesota House Arbor Day tradition began as a symbol of working together.

“We’ve always been able to do this on a bipartisan basis,” said former Republican Rep. Denny McNamara, one of the early organizers of the tree distribution.

Mr McNamara, from Hastings, served on Parliament’s Environment Committee for 14 years and worked as a landscape contractor away from Parliament House.

His speeches on the House floor over the years have ranged from promoting the importance and heritage of Minnesota’s forestry industry to how to care for seedlings planted in the ground.

Former Republican Rep. Dennis Ozment said in 2004, “I measured the first seedling on the floor of the House last night and it was 14 feet tall.” Our actions should be here. ”

Former DFL Rep. Lauren Solberg was one of the original organizers. He said the current bipartisan political climate calls for more interaction across party lines.

“Try your best to understand where they’re coming from, so they can understand you, too,” Solberg said. “That’s very important.”

Extend an olive branch on Arbor Day

“I don’t think there’s a single member of Congress that comes to our meeting on Arbor Day and says, ‘Hey, they’re giving away trees…that’s terrible,'” said Josh Heintzeman, a Republican representative from Nissula, with a laugh. Told. “For the most part, I think everyone wants trees.”

Heintzeman is the top Republican on the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee and owns a custom woodworking business in the Brainerd Lakes area. He is one of the lawmakers supporting this year’s effort, recalling his time in the minority party on Capitol Hill.

“At this point, this process is very difficult for our members and for me personally,” Heintzeman said. “I feel like the public is starting to recognize and share some of the same concerns. Is there an opportunity for Arbor Day to temporarily ease tensions? Probably.”

Rep. Heather Edelson, DFL, who is also participating in this year’s distribution, said clashes in public don’t necessarily mean antagonism between lawmakers.

“Just because we disagree on the committee doesn’t mean we don’t actually get along,” she said.

Meanwhile, back at his farm, Hansen points out that it’s harder to work across party lines than when he was first elected 20 years ago.

“As the environment chair, I think the pollution in our politics is money, and that’s what’s causing these problems,” Hansen said. “Because the spending is unlimited, and it’s mostly negative, which makes it difficult to work together.”

He said distributing these trees won’t solve the problem, but small acts of kindness are important as things calm down at the Capitol. He looks forward to escaping to Harmony’s hobby farm once his week’s work in St. Paul is over.

“As I drive, I can feel the tension melting away,” Hansen said. “We can hear the birds around us, and it’s very different from the voices of lobbyists.”