WASHINGTON DC (WTAQ) – The White House Christmas Tree has completed its journey from Wisconsin all the way to the First Family.
The 19 and a half foot Balsim Fir tree was delivered Monday by Jim and Diane Chapman, winners of a National Christmas Tree Contest was grown and raised in Shawano.
Like a proud parent, the Hanauer’s got to see their one of their baby’s reach a ultimate destination.
“We will not get all the credit, but we know it is our tree” Dan Hanauer said.
After winning the National Tree Contest, the Chapman’s of Silent Night Tree Farm in Endeavor, WI, partnered with Hanauer’s Tree Farm in Shawano to select the special tree, because they did not have one that was tall enough on their own farm.
Owner Dan Hanauer worked with the Chapman’s and the White House to provide a tree that met all specifications, and said that was an honor.
“I mean come on, the White House, I don’t think it gets much better than that.”
The tree was accepted Monday by First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, which has been a tradition for the First Lady to do each year.
Holiday music was played in the background, and tree was given the nod of approval.
While the Hanauer’s are not getting all the credit, many local residents think it is a neat oppertunity.
“Everywhere we go someone says something to us. The news has gotten out on it.”
This is not the Hanauer’s first rodeo for having trees on a big stage.
They had a tree on the USS Battleship Wisconsin years ago, and had about 30 of their trees filmed in the Johnny Depp movie Public Enemies.
Just this year, they had one of their trees selected as the center tree of the new Titletown District in Green Bay.
Possibly the most excited is Dan’s daughter Sophie, who literally wanted to make her mark on the tree before it went to the White House.
“She carved her initials, very lightly, into the trunk of the tree and she plans to write a letter to the President to let him know that their tree was grown on our farm. It is her goal and dream to meet the President someday.”
The tree, grown in Shawano, will complete its life in the White House Blue Room as a focal point of the Trump family Christmas.
