MONROE -- A fourth-grade class in Monroe convinced the governor to change the state tree.
Right now the state tree is the Colorado Blue Spruce, which made no sense to the students.
“I think we should change the state tree because we are not really Colorado,” said fourth-grader Taysia Thompson. “Colorado should have that tree and we should have the quaking aspen.”
The class felt the tree should be changed to something native to Utah – their suggestion was the Quaking Aspen.
The students met with Herbert and told him the aspen tree had stronger roots in the state and it meant more to them because of a nearby national forest, which is home to the largest aspen tree colony in the world.
“It's very much a part of our culture and the way that we live. The quaking Aspen is a part of us,” said fourth-grade teacher Angie Blomquist.
The idea is being written into a bill, which lawmakers expect will pass through the House and Senate.
