White House Christmas Tree

by William Shuster

WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS TREE

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HON. BILL SHUSTER

OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, November 27, 2001

Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share some exciting news from my district. I am delighted to report that the official White House Christmas tree is coming from a farm in my district. Specifically, the White House Christmas tree has been chosen from the Hill View Tree Farm in Middlecreek, Pennsylvania, which is owned and operated by Janice Bowersox and her son and daughter-in-law, Darryl and Aimee Bowersox.

In order to achieve the honor of being designated the farm to supply the White House Christmas trees, the Bowersox family entered the National Christmas Tree contest, an event sponsored by the National Christmas Tree Association. The Bowersox family won the contest at the national convention in August 2000, where they were named Grand Champions. As the winner, Hill View Tree Farm became the chosen supplier of two Christmas trees for the White House.

One tree will be set up in the Yellow Oval Room to serve as the tree for the Bush family. This is the tree under which members of the first family are likely to put their presents. This tree, from the Hill View Farm, is about eight feet tall and has been growing in the field since 1989. The larger tree, which will be placed in the Blue Room, must be at least 18\1/2\ feet high. This larger tree will be the official White House Christmas tree. It is being supplied for Hill View Farm by Donald Craul of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

The two trees will be cut and delivered to the White House the week after Thanksgiving. Janice, Darryl and Aimee Bowersox will present the official White House Christmas tree to First Lady Laura Bush at the White House on the morning of November 28.

Hill View Tree Farm was founded in 1954. The farm has about 150,000 Christmas trees growing on 120 acres. The Bowersox family grows Douglas fir, Colorado spruce, white pine, and concolor fir trees. According to Joyce Bowersox, winning the White House Christmas tree contest has long been a family goal. Joyce Bowersox said she and her family are honored to be presenting this year's tree and thrilled to have received the top honor in the Christmas tree industry.

I am delighted that a farm from my district was chosen to be a part of the White House Christmas tree tradition. I am happy for the Bowersox family, and I hope that the Christmas tree chosen for the White House will bring joy to the President and Mrs. Bush and their family.

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