Top arborist is selected

WEST VALLEY CITY — The Utah State Arborist of the Year was chosen this year from West Valley City, where Darin Nerdin works as a park forester.

Nerdin was selected by a panel of tree industry members for his work in West Valley City, which includes obtaining enough grants to pay for 100 new trees to be planted in the city's parks every year.

Nerdin is a certified International Society of Arboricultural Arborist, who received his bachelor's degree in horticulture from Utah State University. The two-year West Valley City employee is a member of the board of the Salt Lake County Million Trees project and serves on the Utah Heritage Tree Board.