The North Dakota Register of Champion Trees has announced four new champion trees and three new second-place champions for 2024. This initiative aims to encourage public engagement in forestry activities and promote the protection and preservation of significant trees for future generations, according to State Forester Thomas Claeys. Champion trees are identified based on a formula that includes the tree’s circumference at 4.5 feet from the ground, its height, and average crown spread, with the highest-scoring tree being crowned the champion of its species.
Kenneth Birst, who raised the largest Norway maple in North Dakota from a seedling in 1970, now owns the new champion tree for this species. Another Norway maple owned by Pat Bain in Bismarck has been recognized as the second-place champion.
New champion additions to the register include a Japanese tree lilac owned by Terry Wolf in Bismarck, a Kentucky coffeetree owned by Stephanie Ropard in Fargo, and a Mugo pine by Dean and Susan Thompson in Minot.
The Mugo pine, nominated by Dean and Susan Thompson’s son Cullan, is unique because it started as a single-stemmed tree but has grown to resemble a large shrub. Susan Thompson shared, “its nominator is her son Cullan, who first climbed this tree when he was young. Now Susan’s grandkids find joy in climbing this tree higher than the eaves of the house in every season.”
A new second-place champion for green ash in Fargo is owned by Keith Corliss, while the new second-place champion silver maple owned by Gerald and Lisa Azure has also been added to the register.
Visitors are welcome to see champion trees located on public land, but the North Dakota Forest Service requests that those on private property obtain the landowner’s permission.
The North Dakota Champion Tree program follows the guidelines of the National Champion Tree Program, housed at the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s School of Natural Resources. Records of state champion trees are maintained by the North Dakota Forest Service and are accessible online. For more details or to nominate a tree, contact Beth Hill at beth.hill@ndsu.edu.
