Bemidji Gives Away 10,000 Free Trees After Devastating Storm

Nine months after a devastating windstorm knocked out power and toppled 9 million trees across northern Minnesota, the community of Bemidji is fighting back with hope and saplings.

Reforest Bemidji will distribute 10,000 free native tree seedlings to residents starting May 16, 2026. Each household can pre-order up to 70 seedlings from seven different native species to replant their properties.

The severe June 21, 2025 windstorm left thousands without power for days and transformed the landscape overnight. What once was a tree-filled community became a reminder of nature's raw power.

But rather than simply mourn what was lost, residents organized. Reforest Bemidji formed specifically to restore the tree canopy and rebuild the green character that defines their town.

Distribution will happen at the Sanford Event Center on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for pre-orders. Anyone who misses the first day can still grab trees starting at 10 a.m. on May 17 while supplies last.

Local businesses stepped up to make the vision real. Otter Tail Power Company and First National Bank Bemidji partnered with the effort, viewing it as an investment in community resilience.

"We believe in investing in things that grow, like families, futures and the soul of our town," said Ryan Welle, president of First National Bank Bemidji. "This effort is about more than planting trees. It is about planting resilience and rebuilding the legacy of our community."

The Ripple Effect

Bemidji isn't alone in this green comeback. The nonprofit Let's Plant Trees will distribute more than 50,000 seedlings across seven northern Minnesota communities this spring, with 10,000 dedicated to Bemidji.

The scale shows how widespread the damage was, but also how united the response has become. Seven communities are simultaneously replanting, creating corridors of new growth that will mature together over decades.

These aren't just replacements for fallen timber. Native species support local wildlife, prevent erosion, cool neighborhoods during hot summers, and filter air and water. Every seedling planted represents cleaner air for kids playing outside and shade for families gathering in their yards years from now.

Ten thousand trees won't replace 9 million overnight, but they're a powerful start that turns disaster into determined action.