About us
Invest in a living legacy
Rooted in Cheyenne was founded on the idea that our residents are an important part of helping to establish a greener city. Our mission is to grow and diversify the city’s tree canopy and empower the community to care and advocate for trees.
Cheyenne has always been a progressive city in its efforts to increase the tree canopy. As early as 1882, residents played an important role in establishing the tree canopy that we enjoy today. However, Cheyenne is experiencing a high mortality rate in its street tree population as the result of an aging forest and extreme weather events. In addition, citizens are not adequately replacing dead trees, which results in large gaps in the tree canopy.
Since its origination in 2017, Rooted in Cheyenne has strived to provide a tree planting program that provides more than just trees. As our community, growing climate, and industry standard practices change we are making a focused effort to ensure we provide services that fit our one-of-a-kind community. In the winter of 2026, Rooted in Cheyenne Board Members began the strategic planning process. Incorporating community input, the board developed a three-year strategic plan that included four strategic priorities, a renewed mission, and a clear vision.
In partnership with:
Rooted in Cheyenne is a designated 501c(3) nonprofit which works in partnership with the Cheyenne Urban Forestry Division, and led by a volunteer Board of Directors, and staff one part-time employee, dedicated to improving Cheyenne’s urban forest.
Planting Days
How does the program work?
We want all of the trees we plant to succeed! Not only will we deliver and plant your trees, but we offer education on our website and hold tree care workshops to teach you how to care for your trees, ensuring survivability!
We organize the planting dates, deliver your trees, dig the holes, and make it affordable.
Our volunteers sign up, show up, and get to know the neighbors while making neighborhoods more beautiful!
We will return to do health assessments on your trees and let you know how they are doing.
We do not warranty trees. We do try to give your trees the best care in order to ensure survival.
Get started today!
It’s easy to get started, just fill out our online application form and see if you qualify.
Meet Our board
Rooted in Cheyenne couldn’t be successful without the generous and talented people who make up our board of directors.
Mark Ellison
President & Founder, City Forester
Del Scholfield
Vice President, Outreach Committee Chair
Jason Kivisto
Secretary, Tree Steward Coordinator
Matt Groth
Treasurer
Lorie Chesnut
Wes Cure
Donna Dundon
Tyler Humphrey
Ashley Kinney
Jamie Kivisto
Tree Steward Coordinator
Steve Lindly
Fundraising Committee Chair
Steve Reynolds
Finance Committee Chair
Jeramiah Suntrup
Meet Our Staff
Jackie Suntrup
Program Coordinator
Non-Discrimination Policy
Rooted in Cheyenne does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, or military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection or removal of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.
Our history
Cheyenne, WY, has always been a city full of ambition. With its beginnings fixed in the railway, its population began to increase significantly between 1870 and 1882. Back then, Cheyenne was not known for its vegetation, and many of our city’s new settlers longed to create a greener community out of this desert prairie land. One of Cheyenne’s new inhabitants set out to do exactly that.
James Floyd Jenkins
James Floyd (“Flood” – sic.) Jenkins migrated to Cheyenne in 1876. Missing the well-established tree canopies of his home state of Wisconsin, Mr. Jenkins set out to make his new home on the plains into a city of trees. He, along with several other recognized store owners, called on the citizens of Cheyenne to help bring this goal to life.
By 1882, Mr. Jenkins had helped establish Cheyenne’s first official Arbor Day. This event encouraged citizens to purchase or donate funds to plant trees across several city blocks, and it was a success! More than 250 trees were planted (including some of the Cottonwoods we still see today) to create a green oasis in the downtown area. Cheyenne citizens then rallied together to care for and cultivate these trees, ensuring their successful growth.
Over the years, Mr. Jenkins continued his work through the city and its affiliates, helping create parks and plant trees in order to establish a healthy tree canopy. He managed to plant over three miles of trees on streets within the city, as well as in what would eventually become F.E. Warren Air Force Base; he was appointed to a city tree program initiative; and, in 1902, he created the first official tree-planting program in Cheyenne. Dubbed the Citizens Tree Committee, this committee was an integral part in creating the tree canopy that we love and enjoy today.
Mr. Jenkins committed his life to establishing Cheyenne as a city of trees. This ambition has since inspired many after him, including us, to successfully re-establish the program he held so dear to his heart.
S. R. DeBoer’s “Home of the Plans” (1948)
Wyoming State Capitol (1930)
ADDITIONAL READING
S. R. DEBOER HISTORIC LEGACY
1902 tree committee
James Jenkins autobiography
1921 Cheyenne city plan
Get started today!
It’s easy to get started, just fill out our online application form and see if you qualify.
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