One of the last large Christmas tree farms in Pierce County is a family business
Large farms in the Pacific Northwest are slowly fading away. One
reason might be due to population growth and the need for more
homes. Another might be due to local regulations, or potentially a
lack of interest.
But one farming family knows the importance of these farms,
which is why Kristi Scholz-O'Leary quit practicing law to move back
to the farm. Her family started farming in the Puyallup Valley over
100 years ago.
Snowshoe
Evergreen, Inc. is a Christmas tree farm in Pierce County,
but they farm roughly 600 acres in King, Pierce, and Thurston
counties. They start by growing seedlings and eventually sell those
young trees to U-Cut type tree farms where locals can gather and
cut down their own tree every year.
Scholz-O'Leary said her parents won a national Christmas tree
contest in 1982, which allowed them to deliver a Christmas tree to
the White House for President Reagan.
"It actually happened in the state of Washington, and mom and
dad were one of the first to do that," she said.
Snowshoe Evergreen delivers a Christmas
tree to the White House in 1983.
Courtesy Kristi Scholz-O'Leary
Scholz-O'Leary is the fifth generation to farm the land. She
hopes her daughter will take the reins next and be the sixth
generation.
As property prices continue to increase, it makes it more
difficult for these large farms to succeed.
Watch the video here
Written by Jordan Steele, King 5 News
Friday, May 10, 2019