Grupp’s Christmas Trees: A local tradition lives on
It’s the time of year when Grupp’s Christmas Trees is open for the holiday season.
The owners said the family-run farm takes pride in providing a memorable and joyous experience for every family.
Jack Grupp and his wife, Nancy, started the business over thirty years ago. What started as a simple project turned into a Christmas tradition.
“I wanted to plant some trees along the driveway because we had a bad winter,” Jack Grupp said. “I talked to a guy who was growing trees and he said, ‘Why don't you just plant some smaller ones and let them grow?’”
“We had the land and it sounded like something that I wanted to get involved with. I knew it was a good thing,” he added.
The business opens every year on the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Families can choose to stroll through the farm, pick a tree and cut it themselves or they can choose from pre-cut trees inside the barn.
“Most people want to cut their own,” Grupp said. “They want to experience cutting a real tree.”
Over the years, the Grupps watched the farm evolve. They switched to only fir trees and offer a variety of colors. The colors come from a biodegradable paint that was originally used to restore color in pale trees.
“It's a water-based paint and we actually spray it on … It’s safe for your kids and your animals,” Grupp said.
The family spends their offseason planting, trimming, mowing and hoping for enough rain to bring a strong harvest.
Each year, the Grupps purchase seedlings, which are only a couple of feet tall.
“Once we plant them, it takes anywhere from eight to 10 years to get an 8-foot tree,” Grupp said.
Sometimes nature gets in the way, and a portion of the trees is lost.
“We lost a lot of little trees because of the drought this year,” he noted. “As a grower, you have to understand that it is a long-term investment and you're dealing with the weather and the economic conditions like disease.”
Aside from the Christmas trees, the Grupp family said they try to create a positive atmosphere that ties the whole experience together. Families often browse the gift shop and sip on hot chocolate while the helpers bundle up freshly cut trees and load them into their car.
For Jack Grupp and his family, the joy doesn’t come from the sales but from the families who return each year.
“I don’t keep track of how many we sell,” he admitted. “I just want people to leave here saying, ‘There were 50 more trees I would’ve liked to buy, but I could only take one.’ That’s what matters.”
Despite the challenges, the Grupp family continues to plant every tree with the same care each season.
