Arbor Day Poster Winners Announced

Arbor Day Poster Contest judging. (Photo by Freddy Bascom courtesy of Maryland Department of Natural Resources)

Levi Rentch of Piney Elementary School in Carroll County won first place in the 2026 Maryland Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest, sponsored by the Maryland Forest Service.

Yohan Kagheni of Rockland Woods Elementary School in Washington County won second. Leighton Chlebowski of Liberty Elementary School in Frederick County won third.

The annual event challenges fifth-graders across the state to use their creativity, crafting artful posters capturing a terrific tree-related theme.

The 2026 theme was “Trees are Terrific … And Color Our World!”

Levi Rentch of Carroll County won first place in the 2026 Maryland Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest, sponsored by the Maryland Forest Service.

Levi illustrated a colorful scene featuring an owl, fox, cardinal, squirrel, butterflies, a hedgehog and a beetle, all hanging out at their favorite spot – under a big tree.

Levi and the runners up will receive a Smokey Bear gift package, as well as a tree planting at their school – 15 trees for first, 10 for second, and five for third.

Each year the theme starts with “Trees are Terrific,” reflecting the importance of forests and trees to Maryland’s ecosystem.

The second part changes year to year. Recently, themes have included “… And Forests are Too” and “… In All Shapes and Sizes.”

“We give them a theme, and magic happens,” Maryland Forest Service Director Anne Hairston-Strang said.

Judging took place April 22 at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources headquarters in Annapolis.