Before the gates even opened at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds on Saturday morning, a line had already begun to form — neighbors chatting, hands tucked in jacket pockets, all waiting for the same thing: the chance to take home a small tree with the promise of something much larger.
The city of Crossville’s annual Arbor Day tree seedling giveaway, led by Tree Board Chair Janet Dowlen, once again drew a steady crowd eager to plant roots across the community.
Dowlen moved among volunteers, offering direction as the event got underway.
“It’s about hoping people who appreciate trees will come out, select a species, and plant it in their yard,” Dowlen said. “That’s what inspires me to chair this event. I’m proud to be part of continuing this tradition.”
With a background in horticulture, Dowlen works each year with the Tennessee Division of Agriculture Forestry to select a variety of seedlings offered free to the public.
Crossville Mayor Pro Tem Art Gernt, who has opened the event for the past seven years, delivered the morning’s proclamation to the waiting crowd.
“What groups like this do, we often take for granted,” Gernt said. “Trees are a vital part of our landscape.”
Among the first in line were Rob and Loretta Smith, who recently returned to Crossville after moving away. Back since November 2025, the couple is now turning their attention outdoors.
“We’ve got all our boxes unpacked,” Loretta said with a sigh of relief. “Now it’s time to work on the yard.”
Tree Board member Bruce Anderson, a 15-year participant in the event, stayed busy answering questions and assisting attendees. “These tree seedlings help improve our community,” Anderson said. “We all benefit from it.”
In addition to the free seedlings, potted trees were also available for purchase. At the checkout table, Dowlen’s husband and two daughters handled the money transactions. When asked if they were volunteers, her husband laughed. “We’re more like ‘volun-tolds,’” he said. “But hopefully we’re part of what makes this event a success.”
This year’s selection included bur oak, northern red oak, bald cypress, persimmon, native pecan, hybrid chestnut, and shellbark hickory.
“The oak seedlings are often the least popular,” Dowlen noted. “People know it takes a long time for an oak tree to reach a substantial size, and they may not live to see it. We shouldn’t look at it that way, but a lot of people do.”
Dowlen also shared common mistakes people make when taking seedlings home.
“It would really help if folks brought a bucket with water,” she said. “The roots have moisture when they receive them, but they can dry out quickly. It’s important to keep them wet and plant them as soon as possible.”
Improper planting is another issue.
“Sometimes seedlings are planted too deep or too shallow,” she added. “We’re here to give advice, but some people think they already know how to plant a tree, so they don’t ask.”
As the crowd moved steadily through the line, Dowlen paused to take it all in.
“I hope this event continues to grow and we see even more attendees,” she said. “I couldn’t do it without my family and the Tree Board members who come alongside to help.”
Smiling, she folded her arms as she watched residents carry seedlings to their cars and added, “I really appreciate those who appreciate trees.”
By the end of the morning, most of the seedlings had found new homes — small beginnings that, given time, will grow into shade for future summers, shelter for wildlife, and quiet reminders that even the simplest acts can take root and last well beyond the day they began.