Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert has signed into law a measure changing the state tree from the blue spruce to the quaking aspen.
The change was propelled by a fourth-grade class at Monroe Elementary School in Sevier County. Students there argued the aspen was a better representation of Utah because it has a strong root system akin to the state's cultural focus on family history and genealogy.
Herbert signed the bill Wednesday and visited that morning with the class that urged the legislation.
Monroe Republican Sen. Ralph Okerlund sponsored the legislation making the change.
He says the quaking aspen is more prevalent than the blue spruce and can be found throughout the state.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
