Governor to usher in holiday season with Christmas tree delivery
Rantoul, Kansas tree farm produced the Scotch pine

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Kansas – and the Governor’s residence is no exception.

The Christmas season officially gets underway with the arrival today of the Cedar Crest Christmas Tree at the Governor’s residence. The 9-foot-tall Kansas-grown tree will arrive at Cedar Crest at 2 p.m., and will be transported across the property on a horse-drawn wagon and then brought inside the residence.

“The holidays are a wonderful time of year,” Governor Sebelius said, “and it’s even better that we can celebrate with a tree grown right here in Kansas. I hope the arrival of the Cedar Crest Christmas Tree will inspire Kansans to make a Kansas-grown tree part of their family celebration.”

The tree – a Scotch pine variety – was grown at the Memory Lane Christmas Tree Farm in Rantoul. The tree farm is owned and operated by Harry and Juanita Peckham and is just one part of the couple’s larger Pleasant Ridge agritourism operation, which includes Peckham’s Pumpkin Patch and Memory Lane Christmas Lights.

Memory Lane Christmas Tree Farm is one of approximately 100 Christmas tree growers in the state, according to the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association. Christmas tree growing is an estimated $10 million-per-year industry in Kansas.

“Kansas Christmas trees are the freshest you can get,” said Phil Wegman, former President of the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association. “A freshly cut, locally grown Christmas tree will easily last from mid-November all the way through the holiday season if it’s properly cared for.”

Christmas tree farms are also a significant component of the state’s rapidly expanding agritourism industry, which is often defined as the crossroads between traditional agriculture and tourism. Farmers across Kansas are realizing the benefits of tailoring their operations to tourists, who are increasingly looking to visit a working ranch, ride a horse, tour a winery, work a cider press – or pick their own Christmas tree.

Kansas tree farms offer tourists unique attractions including hay rides, Christmas light displays, hot apple cider, Christmas carolers and special visits by Santa Claus.

“Christmas tree farms and the activities that go with them are a great example of agritourism,” Governor Sebelius said.

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