Hanauer Tree Farm Christmas Tree Will Be In The White House For Christmas
A southern Wisconsin Christmas tree grower will get help from a local grower to provide the official White House tree for the holidays. Jim, Diane, and David Chapman of Silent Night Tree Farms in Endeavor Wisconsin won the National Christmas Tree contest last month, and that gave them the privilege of providing the White House Christmas tree. But the Chapman’s don’t have trees as tall as the 18-19 feet that the president’s mansion needs. So the Chapman’s will get their tree from Hanauer’s Farms at Shawano, and they’ll select the tree on Monday.
“They are providing the tree and actually taking the tree to the White House, but it will be a tree that has been growing on our farm since day one” Daniel Hanauer.
The Champman’s and Hanauers have known each other for a while. Hanauer said it is an honor to be included in the special opportunity.
“It takes a lot to win this competition” Hanauer said. “They did it, so they get all the credit. We have no intention to take any credit for this. They had enough confidence to come to us and look for a tree.”
The White House staff will select the tree on Sunday. A large media event will take place on Monday.
The Christmas Tree Contests take place at the State Level and the National Level. Winners of the State competition get to provide a tree for the Governor’s mansion and compete in the National competition for the White House destination.
“We have won the State contest twice and have competed in the National contest four times and never won it” Hanauer said. “Our hats off to Silent Night for winning it. I think this is one of the highest honors in our industry.”
Hanauer said the family will likely look into entering the competition again next year.
“We have a daughter who has said she wants to meet the President, so I guess we will go for it next year” Hanauer joked. “Not like I have any pressure.”
The selected tree will be harvested in late November and then trucked to Washington where it will be featured in the Blue Room of the White House.