The governor and first lady, for a second year in row, reveled in the magic of cutting down a Christmas tree at an Oconto County tree farm.
“Good to be back!” Gov. Scott Walker said at his Nov. 13 visit to Whispering Pines Tree Farm. The Walkers visited the farm to cut down a tree that will be displayed in the Governor’s Conference Room at the state Capitol. The governor uses the room for news conferences, bill signings, cabinet meetings and receptions.
Whispering Pines owners Dave and Mary Vander Velden earned the privilege of hosting the Walkers after exhibiting a champion tree in a state contest.
“This is an honor. It’s the third time we put a tree in the Capitol, and each time is just as great as the last time,” Dave Vander Velden said.
The Vander Veldens and Tom Happersett, of Happ’s Homegrown Christmas Trees, Neshkoro, were the co-champions in the annual contest organized by the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association at its summer convention. It was the third time in four years the Vander Veldens won.
Dave Vander Velden said having the governor at the farm is a great way to start the Christmas season for the Wisconsin Christmas tree growers and promote the use of real trees for the holiday.
“It’s nice, as we get ready for the season, to cut a Christmas tree,” Walker said.
The Walkers rode a horse-drawn wagon along a path through the tree farm and walked a short ways from the trail to a tree Vander Velden had selected for the governor.
“I had a few picked out, and I had a tag on this one, and I said, ‘Take it if you want.’ He looked at it and said, ‘That looks like the perfect one,’ ” Vander Velden said.
The tree was a 10-foot Fraser fir that Vander Velden estimated to be 16 years old, from seed.
The governor set to work with his hand saw and had the tree down quickly. First lady Tonette Walker said she jokes with her husband about him doing all the hard work, while she watches. This year’s tree, with its smaller trunk, was cut with much less effort than last year’s. The couple was on their way to a wellness event in Antigo, and Gov. Walker joked about already doing his workout for the day.
Tonette said Christmas is her favorite season of the year, and she was excited to purchase unique ornaments in the gift shop.
“This is the most charming shop there has got to be in the state,” she said. “They spend so much time picking out the right ornaments, and actually that’s what I’m up here for, to get a few ornaments.”
The newly expanded gift shop at Whispering Pines features specialty ornaments and decorations. It’s just one of the attractions at the tree farm, 3694 Airport Road, which also offers free hot chocolate, visits with Santa, a candy store, horse-drawn wagon rides or rides on the Whispering Pines Express pulled by kids’ favorites Thomas and Percy.
The Vander Veldens have been growing trees on their farm for 25 years, opening to the public in 1995. They grow 140,000 spruce, Fraser fir and balsam fir on approximately 150 acres. Along with the cut-your-own farm, the Vander Veldens also make wreaths and garland and operate a retail tree lot in Green Bay.
The tree farm opens the Friday after Thanksgiving.
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