NEWLAND, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) – A Christmas tree named Tremendous will be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House this year and it comes from a tree farm that was hit hard by Helene.
The 20-foot Fraser fir was given the name to represent the obstacles it took to get to the special moment of selection.
When Helene swept through western North Carolina, many farmers found much of their crop had been washed away including acres of Christmas trees.
“It’s changed the landscape here in Avery County forever,” said Larry Smith, a fifth-generation farmer.
Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, was named the 2024 Grand Champion growers at the National Christmas Tree Contest. The winner is selected to harvest the White House Christmas tree.
Monday’s tree selection marked the 16th time a tree for the Blue Room came from North Carolina. The state is the second-largest Christmas tree provider in the nation and harvests over 30,000 Christmas trees every year.
The tree-cutting will take place on Nov. 20.
Copyright 2024 WBTV via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.