Baring Plants Historic Liberty Tree as Symbol of Resilience After 2023 Tornado

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BARING, Mo. — Nearly two years after an EF2 tornado struck the town of Baring, residents gathered Tuesday evening to honor their recovery by planting a descendant of one of the most symbolic trees in American history.

The event, hosted by Knox County 4-H in partnership with Missouri 4-H and the City of Baring, was held on the south corner of the former Baring School property. The ceremony featured remarks from local leaders, including Keith Gudehus, a Baring native who attended elementary school in the building that once stood on the site.

“I went to elementary school in the building that used to sit right there … for eight years, first grade through eighth grade,” Gudehus said. “Tuesday and Friday nights, I still remember that the girls played on Monday and Thursday nights.”

Gudehus reflected on Baring’s character through the years and how the community’s roots helped it weather the aftermath of the August 4, 2023 tornado.

“My impression as a kid at least was Baring was kind of known as a tough town, a railroad town,” he said. “They’re resilient people, gritty people, tough people and weren’t going to be chased away by a tornado.”

The tree planted Tuesday evening is a tulip poplar, bud-grafted from the last surviving Revolutionary-era Liberty Tree. It now stands as a symbol of perseverance and unity in a town that continues to rebuild.

“What it really represents is fighting against adversity, whether it’s the British rule or mother nature, and all the things she’s thrown at this town,” Gudehus said.

The planting was the result of a grant awarded to the Knox County 4-H Council through the Missouri 4-H Foundation, in partnership with Crader Distributing. Organizers said the Liberty Tree is meant to serve as both a historical tribute and a beacon of hope for the future.

“We want this Liberty Tree planting to be celebrated county-wide,” said Crystal Murr, Knox County 4-H Youth Program Associate. “Having been personally affected by the tornado and witnessed first-hand the hardships that Baring residents have faced during the slow recovery process, it is my hope that this event will renew their strength and determination to ‘Build Baring Back.’”

The EF2 tornado that tore through Baring in the summer of 2023 caused widespread damage to homes, buildings, and the local landscape. The tree planting was one of the first major commemorative events held since the storm.

“We have all been through a lot since this tornado. I grew up in this town and now I’m raising my family here. I’m proud of how far we’ve come since that night,” said Baring Mayor Brett Lowe. “And I see this tree as a symbol of our continued endurance.”

A memorial plaque donated by the family of Lonnie Murr was placed at the planting site. It reads:

“A Tulip Poplar, this tree was bud-grafted from the last standing Revolutionary era Liberty Tree. These trees served as gathering places for American colonists fighting for their independence. May this tree serve as a living testimony to our American founding history.”
The Missouri 4-H Foundation also emphasized the tree’s historical significance.

“The original Liberty Tree was a famous elm tree that stood near Boston Common during the Revolutionary War era. In 1765, the Sons of Liberty, a group of American colonists, staged the first act of defiance against British rule under the tree. This spawned the resistance that eventually led to the American Revolutionary War,” said Rachel Augustine of the Missouri 4-H Foundation.

Tulip poplars descended from the original Liberty Tree have been propagated and distributed across the country, symbolizing civic resilience and unity. The last standing original Liberty Tree, a tulip poplar located in Annapolis, Maryland, died during Hurricane Floyd in 1999, but several bud-grafted trees have survived and continue its legacy.

Tuesday’s planting in Baring brings that legacy to rural Missouri—where community, history and hard-earned recovery intersect.

As Gudehus concluded his remarks, he thanked those who made the event possible. “I would like to again thank Crystal, Knox County 4-H, and Missouri 4-H for the grant that made this possible,” he said.