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Jennifer Greene hit the ground running when she became Executive Director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association (NCCTA) in November of 2009, given that state-wide tree pickups were scheduled to happen just a few weeks from that time. However, Greene proved her skills by making plans and phone calls to growers to arrange for donations and pick up locations, while maximizing the program’s exposure to constituents and followers of the North Carolina growers’ association.

“It’s a lot of work, but I don’t do it alone,” says Greene. “I have a wonderful assistant who helps me make phone calls, plan the details, and coordinate volunteers. She assists with all aspects of making it happen. We always have our pickups the week after Thanksgiving, and being that North Carolina is the second largest producer in the nation for Christmas trees, it’s a very busy time. It is important to coordinate dates that also work for the growers, because without their contributions – this program would not exist.”

Greene credits her 13 years of success as Executive Director to assistance from the community, including that of pickup location hosts, the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC)’s from Ashe County and Avery County High Schools, and the Allegheny High School agriculture students. “The students come to tag, and load, and do whatever we need them to,” says Greene. “And they come whether it’s sunny and warm, raining, windy, or there’s snow coming down and it’s freezing cold. Honestly, once people find out about the program details and the impact that it has, and how long it’s been going on, people feel inspired to help and contribute.”

Local community groups such as restaurants, businesses, and private organizations have generously provided snacks, labor, and even homemade baked goods over the years. “School kids in the communities of Western North Carolina participate by drawing pictures and writing messages on the tree tags,” says Greene. “By reading their messages and seeing the images they draw, you are able to experience things from their perspective on Christmas. Trees for Troops, and the Christmas tree industry is one of my favorite things about doing this each year. The NCCTA has a wonderful community of supporters that help make the program possible each and every year.” These vital connections also include public figures and dignitaries who come to help with loading events, providing support for the program, and even getting their hands dirty by tagging and loading trees.

In 2022, Greene volunteered at the last-minute request of CSF, to attend and later publicize the T4T event at Fort Bragg, while representing CSF and all of the grower donors. “It was such a heart-warming experience for me to be able to see firsthand the recipients of the trees. My goal is that the next time I go to a base, I go after school hours, because I would love to be able to see the reactions of the children and the families as they receive and choose their trees,” says Greene. She was also able to supplement a shortfall in tree numbers at the base with a generous contribution of fresh wreaths from growers.

Greene experienced the true reach of the CSF while on a recent kayak tour in Key West, Florida, where a participant inquired about her husband’s NCCTA shirt. “Turns out that he is a Battalion Sergeant Major and has been a recipient of a T4T tree for the past four years,” says Greene. “He thanked me for my work with the program and expressed his gratitude for receiving a tree each year. It was really cool to randomly meet someone who has received a North Carolina Fraser Fir Christmas tree through the T4T program!”

Greene believes that the reason for CSF’s continued impactful growth is the generosity of the Christmas tree growers that make it happen. “I believe it’s an inspiring example of how we can come together as an industry to express our appreciation to those who serve and have served,” says Greene.

Trees for Troops®, a program of the Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, provides free, farm-grown Christmas Trees to United States armed forces members in all branches of the military and their families, through donations, sponsorships, grants and the work of many volunteers. The mission of the Christmas Spirit Foundation is to advance the Christmas Spirit for kids, families and the environment through programs and activities. The Trees for Troops® achieves that mission, one tree at a time.  Over the past 18 years, with donations, sponsorships and support from Christmas tree farmers, the program has delivered a total of more than 293,000 Real Christmas Trees!

Since 2005 the NC Christmas Tree Association and our member farms have been a part of this fantastic event. Last year 1,049 North Carolina Christmas trees were delivered to Ft. Bragg, NC, NAS Meridian, MS, Ft. Stewart, GA, and Hunter Army Airfield, GA. We could not do it without the help of Ashe and Avery County ROTC students, Alleghany 4-H students, Upper Mountain Research Center, and Avery County Cooperative Extension Center.

For 2022, the program estimates that more than 16,000 total trees were picked up from 54 locations and given to 84 total bases across 5 service branches in the US. Trees are donated by individual farms and lots, the collective efforts of state and regional Christmas Tree associations, local sponsoring groups, and the customers of participating locations. Hundreds of donors and volunteers participate each year to make Trees for Troops® happen.

If you would like more information on this event or interested in donating, please go to https://treesfortroops.org/

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On September 24, 2018, White Officials came to Mountain Top Fraser Fir farm in Newland, NC owned by Larry Smith to select the tree being showcased in the Blue Room of the White House. Larry won this honor being the grand champion of the NC Christmas Tree Association contest and then the National Christmas Tree Contest in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Smith had attempted to win the contest 5 times.

The Christmas Tree was selected by White Chief Usher, Timothy Harleth, and Superintendent of the grounds, Dale Haney. Larry had selected 10 trees that would fit in the standards of the Blue room. After going around they selected the tree and topped it with a red bow.

The tree selection was followed by a brief press conference where Larry Smith, Jennifer Greene, Executive Director of NCCTA, and Timothy Harleth spoke. Larry Smith got emotional after speaking about how much this meant to him.

The Tree Cutting Ceremony was on November 14, 2018. Larry Smith was accompanied by his family and media while cutting the tree. The tree had to be lifted by a crane and placed on the bed of the truck in order to be sent to the loading site. The tree was 19 feet and 800 pounds. Before sending it on its way Larry cut a sliver off the trunk to have as a souvenir to remember this special day.

The tree was then transported to Mountain Glen Golf Course where there was a brief press conference. Steve Troxler, Jennifer Greene, Jerry Moody, and Larry Smith all spoke about this honor and what it means to Larry and the State of North Carolina. The tree was then loaded with the help of the Avery County High School JROTC. The tree then made its journey to White House going through Lenoir where Larry has a retail lot.

On November 19, 2018, the tree was presented to the First Family, Donald, and Melania Trump by Larry Smith and his family. The tree was then put up in the Blue room for everyone to see. Larry Smith and his Fiance Beth went back a week later to see the whole White House decorated including the Blue Room tree.

NC Fraser Fir’s have been selected to be in the White House 13 times since 1971. This is more than any other state.

Larry Smith has been growing Christmas trees since high school which expanded into planting just a few seedlings to it becoming a full-time farm. Larry has gotten his three sons involved as well as his brother who owns a Christmas Tree farm as well.

After providing trees for the Vice President, Governor, and State Capital, Smith is so excited to finally fulfill his dreams of being the White House Tree.

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