A 25-foot concolor fir selected for display as the White House’s Christmas tree was cut down, baled and loaded onto the back of a truck Tuesday at the Michigan farm where it was grown.
Korson’s Tree Farms in Sidney Township, about 150 miles northwest of Detroit, won a nationwide contest to supply the tree that will take up residence in the Blue Room.
It’s to arrive at the president’s home on Monday.
“It’s been pretty exciting, pretty surreal,” said Rex Korson, owner of the family business that has been growing trees since the 1970s.
Someone yelled “timber” as a chainsaw was used to fell the tree, which Korson’s employees then cut down to about 19.5 feet.
This marks the sixth time Korson’s has competed in the National Christmas Tree Association’s contest.
“In 2015, we had the reserve grand champion tree. So, we presented a tree that went to the vice president,” said Korson, whose farm has 1,000 acres.
“We’re very honored and very proud to be able to represent the real Christmas tree industry,” he said.
