The city of Fort Dodge was recently honored with the 2017 Tree City USA Award at the 28th annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources April 4. Fort Dodge was one of 79 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan. Pictured from left are Bruce Trautman, deputy director of the Iowa DNR; Fort Dodge forestry staff Matt Lara, Aaron Steburg and A.J. Dorsey; and Jeff Goerndt, state forester.