Whether its athletics, academics or a recreational pursuit, becoming a state champion often takes years of training, hard work and skill. There is an exception (make that 116 exceptions) to this rule.

They are the Missouri Department of Conservation-certified State Champion Trees.

What does it take to become a state champion tree? The conservation department uses a formula to assess a point value for big trees. Points are determined by a tree’s height, crown spread (the average distance the tree stretches in all directions) and trunk size. They come up with this point value by adding the circumference in inches to the height in feet plus one-fourth of the average crown spread.

Using this formula, the largest known living tree in Missouri is an American sycamore, which scored a point total of 457. This same tree also holds the title of the largest circumference with a distance of 27 feet, 9 inches. The woody giant is found on private property owned by Judy Underwood in Polk County.

Looking for the tallest tree? It’s a pumpkin ash, located in Big Oak Tree State Park in Mississippi County. The state champion ash tree has grown to a height of 150 feet, which also earned it the national title for this species in the National Registry of Big Trees kept by the American Forests Organization.

Of Missouri’s 116 giants, three others have made it to the National Registry, including the state-champion bur oak, which is located beside a road in southern Boone County. With a total score of 410, it is not only Missouri’s biggest bur oak, but the largest of its kind in the nation. Its trunk measures 287 inches in circumference, and it stands 90 feet tall and spreads to more than 130 feet.

One of the champions, an American sycamore, boasts a crown spread of 200 feet or half an acre.

“Some of these trees are truly spectacular,” said Donna Baldwin, who administers the State Champion Trees Program. “They really are worth taking a trip to see.”

Anyone can join in on the search for Missouri’s State Champion Trees, according to conservation department officials who claim there are many unreported giants just waiting to be discovered. Champion trees currently are located in 47 counties in every region of the state.

Northwest Missouri is home to three of these champions. Bob and Mary Burr of Clinton County are the owners of the state champion eastern cottonwood, Charles Bachle of Atchison County is the owner of the current state record downy serviceberry and Shirley Scott of Caroll County owns the title for holding sandbar willow.

Any nominated tree found to be within 30 points of the champion will be filed as “contenders.”

And, unfortunately, champion trees blow over in storms, fall victim to disease or old age or are simply cut down. When a mishap like this occurs, the largest contender of that species on file becomes the new champion.

The owner and nominator of each champion tree also receive a certificate mounted on a walnut plaque and all the bragging rights associated with finding or owning a certified State Champion Tree, according to the conservation department.

For further details about the State Champion Trees Program including a full list of current champions contact Donna Baldwin, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 or by phone at (573) 751-4115, ext. 3111, e-mail donna.baldwin@mdc.mo.gov, or log onto www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOChampionTrees/.