DES MOINES – Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Karey Claghorn will be at the State Fairgrounds at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 1 to recognize the donation of Iowa grown Christmas trees to the “Trees for Troops” program.
“Trees for Troops” delivers real Christmas trees to military troops overseas and military families in the United States. This is the programs 5th year and it is expected to collect and deliver between 17,000 and 20,000 trees nationwide. More than 125 trees are being donated by Iowa growers.
There are just over one hundred Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farms in Iowa, with close to 2,500 acres in tree production. Approximately 57,000 trees are harvested annually across the state. Real trees are renewable and recyclable resources, they produce oxygen, prevent soil erosion, filter water, and provide wildlife habitat.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship is partnering with the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association and FedEx for the event. Details follow here:
Who: Karey Claghorn, Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture
Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association
FedEx
Where: State Fairgrounds
North Parking Lot, Des Moines
When: Tuesday, December 1st at 10:30 a.m.
What: Trees for Troops Delivery and Pickup Ceremony
How: For more information about the event please contact Dustin Vande Hoef with the Iowa Department of Agriculture at 515-281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)
This year trees were donated by:
Mel & Jan Pacovsky, Pine Acres, New Hampton, IA
Lee & Lynne Aldrich, Aldrich Tree Farm, Belmond, IA
Ken & Shirley Andrews, Wickiup Tree Farm, Alburnett, IA
Marvin & Janet Bassett, Harmony Christmas Tree Farm , Stuart, IA
Neal & Marie Bork, Country Pines, Marcus, IA
Andrew & Diane Davis, Scotch Hill Christmas Trees, Oskaloosa, IA
Jerald & Cindy Deal, Deal's Orchard. Jefferson, IA
Jim & Gladys Dixon, Dixon Tree Farm, Norwalk, IA
Dale & Julie Fagner, DJ Christmas Pines, Elkader, IA
Mark & Jackie Fisher, Fisher Tree Farm, Clear Lake, IA
Gary & Jane Harman, Walnut Ridge Farm, Indianola, IA
Harold & Carol Hill, Hill's Tree Farm, Minburn, IA
Chris & Wade Hinders, Hinders Trees, Woden, IA
Steven Hoogestraat, Hoogestraat Christmas Tree Farm, Arcadia, IA
Sandra Hunter, The Christmas Tree Farm, Maxwell, IA
Mike & Renee Kidman, Kidman Tree Farm, Polk City, IA
Mark & Twylah Kragel, Kragel Christmas Trees & Traditions, Clear Lake, IA
Loren & Liz Kruse, Kruse Christmas Farm, Grundy Center, IA
Terry & Lona Lewis, Horse Creek Farm, Sidney, IA
Bob & Karla Moulds, Wapsie Pines Tree Farm, Fairbanks, IA
Rick & Joyce Larson, Brushy Creek Farm, Decatur City, IA
Jim & Marilyn Murphy, Murphy's Walnut Hill Nursery, Runnells, IA
Vernon & Sarah Rettig, Rettig Tree Farm, Bondurant, IA
Joe & Janice Reutter, Enchanted Valley Tree Farm, Boone, IA
Anita Shockley, Clearview Tree Farm, Bloomfield, IA
Bob & Terry Strohbehn, Poweshiek Pines Tree Farm, Brooklyn, IA
Jerry & Kelle VanVacter, Riverside Trees, Duncombe, IA
Larry Ward & Jodie Bassett, Harmony Tree Farm North, Stuart, IA
Michael & Deb White, White Christmas Tree Farm, Indianola, IA
Bill Northey is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. Northey is a fourth-generation corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are expanding opportunities in renewable energy, encouraging conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.
