The Lucky Clover 4-H group gathers around their newly planted Liberty Tree at the Rock Port park. Pictured above, left to right, are: front row – Zeke Gebhards, Sophie Storm, Bentley Teten, Audrey Dougherty; middle row – Brandon Athen, Emma Teten, Pooja Patel, Bryna McEnaney, Jessa Geib, Isaac Dougherty, Jadyn Geib and Desmond Chaney; back row – Dixie Teten, Ryan Athen and Jennifer Geib. The group chose the specific spot to help bring shade to the area close to the Rock Port City Pool and shelter house.

Honoring the places in which the first steps towards America’s freedom were taken, “Liberty Trees” have grown to become one of our nation’s treasures.

The Atchison County Lucky Clover 4-H Group has planted a “Liberty Tree” at Rock Port City Park after applying for a special program and being selected as one of the Liberty Tree communities.

The original Liberty Tree was a famous elm tree that stood near Boston Common during the Revolutionary era. In 1765, the Sons of Liberty, a group of American colonists, staged the first act of defiance against British rule under the tree. This spawned the resistance that eventually led to the American Revolutionary War. During the war, several other towns designated their own Liberty Trees as support for the resistance spread throughout the colonies. These Liberty Trees became symbols of American independence.

The Missouri 4-H Foundation, in partnership with Crader Distributing and local STIHL dealers, is continuing the service-learning initiative that enables 4-H clubs to play an active role in preserving American history by planting Liberty Trees once more this spring in communities throughout Missouri.

The last original Liberty Tree, a Tulip Poplar, stood on the grounds of St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, until 1999 when it died during Hurricane Floyd. Prior to its death, 14 seedlings were successfully germinated from the tree through a project spearheaded by the nonprofit conservation organization American Forests. The seedlings were planted throughout the original 13 colonies.

In order to further preserve the legacy of the Liberty Trees, a bud-grafting program was launched, through which several bud-grafted trees were grown. Thanks to the generosity of Crader Distributing and local STIHL dealers,  these bud-grafted Tulip Poplar trees will be donated to Missouri 4-H clubs to be planted in public spaces throughout Missouri.