Minnesota Forest Industries (MFI) and Minnesota McDonald's restaurants took their annual 55,000-seedling giveaway on Arbor Day one step further this year, by inviting people to apply for one of five large, free trees to be planted in their yards.

More than 3,200 Minnesotans responded, and on July 21, McDonald's and MFI, assisted by Mickman Brothers Garden Center in Ham Lake, planted a double flowering plum tree in the yard of Columbia Heights resident Sandy Langner.

The other four tree winners reside in Osakis, Saginaw, Wells and Mankato.

MFI

Minnesota Forest Industries is a trade organization representing the large paper and building products mills in Minnesota, such as Verso Paper in Sartell, Boise in International Falls, Blandin Paper in Grand Rapids, and Potlatch in Bemidji, among others.