River Ridge Tree Farms of Crumpler was chosen to supply this year’s official White House Christmas tree, which will stand in the Blue Room of the presidential mansion. The honor marks the second year in a row the first couple’s tree has come from Ashe County and the 11th time in 41 years the evergreen has been supplied by a North Carolina grower.

“It’s one of the highs of my life outside of having children,” says Russell “Rusty” Estes, one of the farm’s owners. “It’s been a goal we’ve had for several years, and now we’ve finally achieved it.”
River Ridge Tree Farms was named grand champion grower of all species during the 2008 National Christmas Tree Association Convention & Trade Show held in Des Moines, Iowa. The grand champion wins the honor of providing the White House tree. The farm’s winning tree was an 8-foot-tall Fraser fir, which is native to the state.

Mistletoe Meadows, owned by Joe Freeman and Linda Jones and located in Laurel Springs, was named grand champion grower in 2007.

Freeman called the opportunity a “great honor.” He said that River Ridge Tree Farms deserved the award for its quality work, and he recommended that the owners enjoy the experience, because it passes quickly.

“Make the most of it,” Freeman said. “It was a wonderful experience … to represent the entire Christmas tree industry.”

Jessie Davis, who founded River Ridge Tree farms with his father-in-law, Joe Pennington, compares the opportunity to winning the Super Bowl.

“We worked hard to get to this point,” Davis says. “I am very excited about going to the White House to represent the Christmas tree industry and North Carolina.”

Davis began growing trees shortly after high school. He had a full-time job, but eventually left to start River Ridge Tree Farms.

“I started off with nothing,” Davis says. “I couldn’t even afford to pay attention. I had to borrow money to get started, and if I made any profit at all, it always went back into the trees.”

Estes planted his first trees in 1979. He partnered with Davis after Pennington died in 2003. Davis’ mother-in-law, Carol Pennington, is also a partner.

Estes says they will present the tree to first lady Laura Bush shortly after Thanksgiving.
The tree was chosen from a lot planted in 1985 by Davis and Joe Pennington.

“It was fitting that one of the trees that Joe helped plant would be going to Washington to represent the nation,” Davis says. “He would have been amazed if he was still alive. Providing a Christmas tree to the White House would have been the ultimate accomplishment for him.”

The farm will also supply 25 other, smaller Christmas trees to be placed in locations around the White House, such as the president’s and the vice president’s personal offices.

Linda Gragg, executive director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association, says the award speaks volumes about the quality of Christmas trees, particularly the Fraser firs, grown in the state.

“I can’t emphasize enough what it says about the production and quality of trees we have,” Gragg says. “The Fraser fir is in its natural habitat and grows faster in Western North Carolina. It has dark green foliage, has branches that can support the heaviest ornaments, and it just smells like Christmas.”