North Carolina Tree Farm’s Resilient Spirit Shines as White House Chooses Its Fraser Fir for Holiday Display

The White House selected a 20-foot-tall Fraser fir from Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, to be displayed in the Blue Room this holiday season.

This marks the second consecutive year a North Carolina tree has been chosen and is the first time a tree from Cartner’s farm will decorate the White House.

Owner Sam Cartner sees this as an achievement for all western North Carolina tree farms, emphasizing the community rather than political significance.

Avery County, where Cartner’s farm is located, was among the hardest-hit areas during Hurricane Helene, which tragically claimed over 220 lives across six states.

Cartner hopes the chosen tree will serve as a symbol of resilience and community spirit, reflecting the strength shown during and after the hurricane. His farm sustained losses of 5,000-6,000 smaller Christmas trees due to landslides, though he expects a relatively normal harvest this year.

Many other local farms, however, lost larger, market-ready trees and continue to face accessibility issues due to storm damage. The North Carolina Department of Transportation is collaborating with these farms to repair infrastructure, though no timeline for full recovery has been provided.

North Carolina is the nation’s second-largest Christmas tree producer, annually harvesting over 3 million trees. Although some Fraser firs were lost in the hurricane, the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association’s executive director, Jennifer Greene, is optimistic that supply will be unaffected.

Tim O’Connor, another association director, noted that farmers have worked diligently to minimize the impact of the storm on this season’s tree availability.

The White House tree is chosen in a competition hosted by the National Christmas Tree Association, where growers bring their best trees to be judged on qualities like height (18-20 feet) and width (around 12 feet).

This year, Cartner’s farm won the Grand Champion title, granting it the honor of providing the official White House tree. Cartner plans to cut and send the tree to the White House on November 20, with proceeds from the event supporting hurricane survivors.

The tree will arrive at the North Portico via horse-drawn carriage, where the First Lady will inspect it, continuing a tradition since 1966, and it will be placed in the Blue Room to be decorated with a holiday theme unveiled after Thanksgiving. The official presentation will occur in a ceremony at the White House on November 25.

Things You Might Not Know 

While the selection of a 20-foot Fraser fir from Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm to adorn the White House for this holiday season is certainly a prestigious recognition, the emphasis on the community’s resilience in the face of Hurricane Helene could be seen as glossing over the broader implications of the ongoing struggles that tree farms and local communities face.

Owner Sam Cartner’s sentiment that this honor represents the hard work and resilience of all western North Carolina tree farms is commendable, yet it could be criticized for downplaying the severe, lasting effects of the hurricane on many local farms.

While the chosen tree symbolizes strength, it’s crucial to remember that many other farms in the region continue to deal with infrastructure damage and lost trees that have yet to recover fully.

The lack of a clear recovery timeline from the North Carolina Department of Transportation for the storm-damaged areas points to the slow and uneven recovery of this vital industry.

Celebrating a single tree from Cartner’s farm risks overshadowing the broader ongoing hardships faced by his neighbors in the industry.

Moreover, the statement that this selection marks a significant community achievement may inadvertently reinforce the notion that the tree-growing industry in North Carolina is resilient and thriving, when, in reality, some farms are still dealing with the tangible consequences of the hurricane’s damage.

The optimism expressed by the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association’s executive director and other members is laudable, but it does not change the fact that the recovery process for these farms has not been swift.

The community’s spirit is undoubtedly strong, but this selection may unintentionally gloss over the hurdles that still need addressing.

Additionally, while the holiday tree’s arrival at the White House via horse-drawn carriage and the accompanying ceremony are symbolic traditions, one could argue that focusing on such ceremonial events might obscure the more pressing, long-term issues that small businesses, such as Christmas tree farms, continue to face in terms of recovery and financial stability.

The ceremonial grandeur could be criticized for failing to reflect the urgent need for tangible support and resources for communities still reeling from the disaster.

To be clear, while the choice of Cartner’s Fraser fir as the White House tree represents a proud moment for the farm and community, it also underscores the tension between celebration and the ongoing challenges faced by many farmers.

Recognizing the resilience of the community is important, but it is equally essential to ensure that the public focus remains on the difficult road to recovery for the larger network of affected farms.