Idaho’s third US Capitol Christmas Tree comes with special honor for local girl
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IDAHO FALLS – For the first time since 2016, Idaho will provide the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
The tree is selected from a different national forest every year, and this year it’s being harvested from the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests on Oct. 24. From there, it will begin a whistle-stop cross-country tour on its way to the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building. Multiple stops in eastern Idaho are scheduled, including ones in Salmon and Craters of the Moon National Monument on Nov. 4 and 5, respectively. It will also stop in Idaho Falls on Nov. 6 before making its way to Gardiner, Montana.
Salmon fourth-grader Grace Benson, a student at Fernwaters Public Charter School, was selected as the winner of the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Youth Tree Lighter essay contest. She’ll represent Idaho in Washington, D.C., in December, where she will read her essay and help light the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson and other public officials.
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“I am so impressed by Grace’s eloquent essay that highlights the natural features of our special town,” Fernwaters Charter Principal Kristin Foss says in a news release. “The fact that she won this statewide contest demonstrates her innate talent and the Fernwaters staff’s commitment to our vision for helping small town kids launch big life dreams.”
In September, U.S. Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, both from Idaho, invited fourth-grade students across the state to participate in the statewide essay contest. It followed the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree theme, “Over the Rivers and Through the Woods,” and encouraged students to reflect on the importance of Idaho’s natural resources by answering the question, “Why are healthy forests and clean water in Idaho important?”
Grace’s essay was selected through a review process conducted by the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and the Idaho Forest Restoration Partnership in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service.
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Supervisor Jon Word says decisions made today about national forests will shape the experiences of generations to come, including Idaho’s children. He says it was Grace’s understanding of that concept in her essay that stood out to him.
“What stood out in Grace’s essay was her vivid portrayal of life in rural Idaho and her deep understanding of the strong connection Idahoans share with their public lands and seven national forests. We are proud of her accomplishment and look forward to her sharing her essay on the national stage,” says Word.
Sens. Crapo and Risch also tout Grace’s love of Idaho’s forests and water resources and express appreciation for her participation and hard work.
“Congratulations to Grace on being selected to represent Idaho in our nation’s capital,” Crapo says in the release. “Her essay highlights the importance of Idaho’s forests, clean water and the connection Idahoans share with our state’s natural resources. This year’s Capitol Christmas Tree is a special opportunity to share Idaho’s natural beauty with the nation, and Grace will play an important role in that celebration.”
Risch says he looks forward to joining Grace in Washington, D.C., later this year.
Decades-old tradition comes to Idaho Falls
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree initiative is a 62-year tradition in which one of America’s 154 national forests provides a tree for the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol for the holiday season. Architect of the Capitol reports that it started in 1964 when then-House Speaker John McCormack proposed that a Christmas tree be placed on the Capitol grounds.
A 24-foot Douglas fir was initially planted on the west front lawn and decorated each year. The tree died in 1968 due to root damage sustained in a severe wind storm. The state of Maryland provided trees for the next two years. The U.S. Forest Service began providing trees in 1970, a tradition that continues decades later. Today, it’s known as “The People’s Tree.”
The 2026 tree marks the third time Idaho has supplied the nation’s Capitol Christmas tree. The first time was in 2003, when a 65-foot Engelmann Spruce was provided by Boise National Forest. In 2016, an 80-foot Engelmann spruce came from Payette National Forest, shown in the video below.
The tree’s stop in Idaho Falls on Nov. 6 will happen in the parking lot of the Idaho Falls Public Library, according to a news release from the city. The 76-foot Engelmann spruce will be on display from 5:30-6:30 p.m. There will be live music, winter crafts and stories, and educational and interactive booths highlighting Idaho’s national forests and the people who care for them. Members of the public can also create handmade ornaments for the tree’s journey to Washington, D.C.
Idaho Falls Power, which is hosting the event with the city and the library, will provide winter treats for attendees.
“The event offers an opportunity for the community to gather and welcome the tree to Idaho Falls while celebrating the connection between Idaho’s forests, public lands and the communities they serve,” the city’s news release states.
The annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is expected to happen the first week of December. An exact date has not been announced, but it will be live-streamed for the public.
Ahead of the event, Fernwaters Public Charter School teacher Meriah Barker also congratulated Grace for winning the contest. She has a message for all the participants and students across Idaho.
“My hope is that every student knows their words have power, that they should share them with purpose, and that every voice matters,” Barker says in the release. “Our stories are meaningful, our perspectives have value and the world deserves to hear what we have to say.”