The City of Rugby was awarded the 2025 “Youth Tree Planters” Trees Award at the Trees Bowl and Awards Ceremony held in Fargo Saturday, Sept. 13.

Nominations were received from across the state and the award winners were recognized by the North Dakota Forest Service and North Dakota State University. Rugby was recognized for the City’s annual Arbor Day celebration, which invites 5th grade students to plant a tree. Each classroom is responsible for planting a tree from deciding how deep to plant, filling in the hole, watering and deciding what to name their tree.

During the awards ceremony, NDSU President David Cook and State Forester Tom Claeys presented each winner with a special Trees Awards plaque. The winners were also recognized on the field during the NDSU half-time activities at the winning Trees Bowl football game at the Fargodome.