The Bowersox family also presented the First Family with a Douglas fir Christmas Tree to enjoy in their private quarters at The White House. The tree was grown at the Bowersox family’s Hill View Christmas Tree Farm in Middleburg, PA.

“I’m so excited today to accept the White House Christmas Tree from the Bowersox and the National Christmas Tree Association,” said Mrs. Bush. “This is the very first step in a very exciting Christmas season, so we’re thrilled to have this big, beautiful tree to go in the Blue Room.

The First Lady noted the longstanding tradition of The White House Christmas Tree kicking off the holiday season.

“Especially this Christmas season, we’ll be dealing with issues none of us expected to be dealing with,” she said. “Being with our families around the Christmas tree, all of the different traditions and rituals that families have around the holiday season are more important than ever.”

The Bowersox won the honor of presenting the Christmas Tree to The White House by winning the National Christmas Tree Association’s Christmas Tree contest in Rochester, N.Y., in the summer of 2000. The Bowersox won the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Association’s contest in order to be eligible to compete at the national level.

“It’s quite an honor to be representing the entire industry,” said Janice, mother of Darryl. His wife, Aimee, was also on hand for the presentation. “It’s like being in the World Series…top of the line.”

Jim Corliss, president of the National Christmas Tree Association, also attended the presentation to the First Lady. Corliss said the entire industry is proud the First Family celebrates the holidays with a farm-grown Christmas Tree.

“North American growers and retailers of Christmas trees hope that the reduced travel and increase in spirituality and family activities in America will prompt more consumers to choose a Real Christmas Tree this year,” said Corliss.

The tree was selected October 15th at Hill View Christmas Tree Farm by three members of the White House staff: Chief Usher Gary Walters; Executive Groundskeeper Irv Williams; and National Park Services Forester Mike Lawn. The Blue Room tree must be 18 ½ feet tall. Since the Bowersox family does not have any trees that large, a friend of theirs gave them the tree that was presented to the First Lady.

Hill View Tree Farm has about 150,000 Douglas fir, Concolor fir, Colorado spruce and White pine trees growing on 120 of 239 acres. Three generations of the Bowersox family have run the farm since Darryl’s grandfather bought the land in 1954. In the mid 1960s, the family started growing Christmas trees and Janice’s husband, Dennis, joined his father as a partner. When Janice married Dennis Bowersox, she became part of the business. Dennis has passed on, but Janice runs the farm today.

This was the 36th consecutive year that a member of NCTA has presented a Christmas Tree to the First Lady.