On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Skamania, announced her fourth annual Bigleaf Maple Big Leaf Contest to encourage residents of Washington’s Third Congressional District to get out in the woods and find the biggest Bigleaf Maple leaf they can.
Previous winners have included Maynard Mallonee with an 18.5-inch leaf found in Curtis in 2024, and Dirk and Dixie H. who found a 23.5-inch leaf in Randle in 2023.
Last year brought in an impressive 21-inch leaf, found by James Owen from Raintree Nursery in Lewis County.
“This competition started when I found out the largest maple leaf on record in the congressional library was tiny and from Kentucky. And I was like, ‘we can’t have that. There are bigger leaves than that in the woods by my house.’ We’re so lucky here in Southwest Washington to have some of the most beautiful trees in the country — and this competition is about bringing that pride of place to the U.S. Capitol,” Gluesenkamp Perez stated in a news release. “So go, get out in the woods, enjoy a fall day with your family, find some really big honking leaves and just have fun! I promise you’ll learn so much about the woods we’re so lucky to share.”
Bigleaf Maple trees are found all over the Pacific Northwest, and the showcase spurs folks to get outside, enjoy the forest and learn about the challenges facing the Bigleaf Maple.
The biggest leaf will be displayed for visitors to see in the congresswoman’s office and showcased online.
Constituents can learn how to enter on Gluesenkamp Perez’s website at https://gluesenkampperez.house.gov/bigleaf-maple-leaf-contest. Images should be entered by Oct. 23, and the leaf should be preserved.
