HILLSBORO, Ore. -- Governor Kate Brown visited Jackson Elementary on Monday to announce the winner of the Capitol Christmas tree essay contest.
Fourth-grader Brigette Harrington's poem won.
The contest opened earlier this year, and in order to enter, fourth-graders had to write letters about what they love about Oregon’s outdoors. Governor Brown and her staff read essays from about 1,200 fourth graders.
Harrington, the lucky fourth-grader from Jackson Elementary, will go to Washington, D.C., to light the Capitol Christmas tree. Harrington and a family member will also get a free hotel stay.
This year Harrington will also get a special gift from the U.S. Forest Service -- an official tree-lighting ugly Christmas sweater.
Harrington said it took her three days to write the poem that won.
