Wahmhoff Farms Nursery in Gobles, Michigan recently became the hub of a heartwarming community event, ‘Trees for Troops.’ This initiative brought together local veterans, officials, and residents to show their unwavering support for U.S. military personnel and their families.
Spreading Holiday Cheer to Military Families
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) took an active role in the event, with Director Tim Boring and Chief of Staff Kathy Angerer heading the efforts. They were joined by key representatives from the Michigan Christmas Tree Association and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.
The ‘Trees for Troops’ initiative, powered by the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation in collaboration with FedEx, has been delivering free, farm-fresh Christmas trees to U.S. service members and their families for an impressive 20 years. Thanks to generous donations, sponsorships, grants, and a network of dedicated volunteers, thousands of trees are distributed every holiday season. For 2024, 93 military bases across the country—15 of them new to the program—are set to receive these festive gifts.
“It’s wonderful to be here at Wahmhoff Farms today to help support the Trees for Troops program and to give back to the hard-working men and women in military service, who protect us every day,” said Tim Boring. “The Trees for Troops program creates the perfect opportunity to give the gift of local agriculture – fresh, Michigan-grown Christmas trees – given with the utmost respect for our military members. Wahmhoff Farms and other Michigan Christmas tree farmers, along with community donors and volunteers, have come together to fill a semi-truck with holiday cheer. This is what the holiday season is all about.”
Colonel James Rossi of the Michigan National Guard shared similar sentiments, noting, “The Michigan National Guard is thrilled to work alongside dedicated community members to assist with this year’s Trees for Troops event. This event is a fantastic representation of the level of support Michigan communities strive to provide military service members and their families. It is incredible knowing the amount of effort the Trees for Troops volunteers put in to make sure military members are able to celebrate the holidays around these beautiful Michigan-grown trees.”
Celebrating the Legacy of Wahmhoff Farms Nursery
Wahmhoff Farms Nursery, a family-owned staple of Southwest Michigan, has proudly operated for over seven decades. Known for its exceptional Christmas trees, the farm also offers wreaths, garlands, U-cut options, and other festive products that capture the holiday spirit and serve the community.
Michigan’s Vital Role in the Christmas Tree Industry
Michigan holds a prestigious position in the U.S. as the third-largest producer of Christmas trees. With over 500 tree farms spread across the state, Michigan supplies roughly 2 million fresh Christmas trees annually. The industry’s total farm gate value exceeds $40 million, solidifying its importance to Michigan’s agricultural economy.
This year, Governor Gretchen Whitmer officially proclaimed December as Michigan Christmas Tree Month. This designation celebrates the tradition of family Christmas trees and encourages residents to support local farms by purchasing fresh, Michigan-grown trees.
Source: The Trucker
Image: MDARD
