After achieving second place in the National Tree Contest with an exotic Turkish fir tree, Bustard’s Christmas Trees was selected to provide the Vice President Kamala Harris her Christmas tree this year.
According to Real Christmas Trees.org, The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) has been presenting The White House with the official Christmas tree to display in The Blue Room since 1966.
After competing and winning in a state competition, tree growers move on to a national competition where the grand champion will showcase their tree in The White House for the president.
The reserve grand champion showcases their Christmas tree in the United States Naval Observatory for the Vice President.
In 2015, Bustard’s Christmas Trees was awarded the title of grand champion at the NCTGC, making this their second appearance to Washington as the reserve grand champions. That year, Bustard’s provided The White House with its Christmas Tree.
According to Bustard’s Christmas Trees co-owner Glenn Bustard, receiving this title comes with the same amount of gratitude and satisfaction as it did when given the title of grand champion.
“It feels good,” Bustard said. “It’s an honor because you have to win a national competition to do it.”
Co-owner Jay Bustard shares a similar outlook.
According to Jay, the National Tree Contest supplies trees from all over the country, meaning the stakes are high for all tree growers and their employees.
“[Our tree] is the second place tree in the whole country, it’s an honor,” Jay said. “The honor really is our employees, because they do such a good job of trimming the trees and taking care of it, and Glenn really keeps up hard on the proper nutrition and everything else. So it’s a real team effort and that makes me proud.”
The Christmas tree selected for Vice President Harris is of the Turkish fir variety. This will be the first year that the vice president’s mansion will hold an “exotic” Christmas tree, according to the Bustards.
According to Christmas tree farmer and breeder Beth Ann Bossio, the Turkish fir tree is best suited for the vice president’s residence because of its needle retention and ability to tolerate “wet feet.”
“It’s able to be planted in a wide variety of soils, whether it be wet soil or dry,” Bossio said. “Needle retention is one of the most important things when you look at tree characteristics. We have found that in Turkish fir, you’re able to hold on to the needles after the tree is cut.”
For Bossio, she is proud of what the Bustards are able to do for the Christmas tree industry, even just by entering the competition.
“I’ve always admired the Bustards and the hard work they do as farmers,” Bossio said. “To be able to have this honor, no matter if it’s going to The White House or to the Vice President’s [residence], it speaks volumes when you win in our industry.”