WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Christmas tree received Monday afternoon by First Lady Jill Biden marked a familiar journey from the mountains of North Carolina to the Blue Room of the White House.
The centerpiece of the annual decorations in the White House, the 18 ½ foot Fraser fir this year hails from Cline Church Nursery in Fleetwood, just off Highway 221 in Ashe County.
Christmas tree growers Amber Scott and Alex Church, who are the second-generation owners of the Christmas tree farm started by their parents, presented the winning tree to the first lady and several military families.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to represent the Christmas tree growers of America, by continuing the tradition of providing a tree to the White House Blue Room, which will be viewed by millions of people,” said Scott last week as Robert Downing, White House Chief Usher and Dale Haney, White House Superintendent of Grounds, arrived to measure and select the tree to make the trip to Washington.
The family was named 2023 Grand Champion Grower in the National Christmas Tree Association’s National Christmas tree contest, which is one of the top honors of the group, which helps select the White House Christmas tree each year. Members of the National Christmas Tree Association have presented the official White House Christmas tree for display in the Blue Room since 1966.
North Carolina’s Christmas tree industry ranks second in the nation in number of trees harvested and cash receipts, usually over 20% of the entire supply across the country, just behind Oregon.
The Tarheel State leads among the selection the White House Christmas tree as well, with 2023’s the 11th one chosen for display.
The winning tree is nothing new for the industry in Ashe County, which has now sent 7 Christmas trees to the White House, more than any other county in the country.
The mountain county is also the largest Christmas tree producing county in the U.S., with around 12,000 acres in active production. The farms help drive the local economy, providing over 700 jobs year-round and swelling to over 2,000 during the Christmas season.