Dave Vander Velden has an eye for a good tree.
After all, one of his trees — a rare 20-foot Balsam-Veitch fir cross — was chosen for display in the White House Blue Room in Washington, D.C., in 2016 for the Obama family. And in 2019, another of Vander Velden’s trees was selected for Vice President Mike Pence to be displayed at Number One Observatory Circle in Washington, D.C., in 2020.
And, for the second time in 12 years, Vander Velden and his wife, Mary, will be honored to provide the state capitol Christmas tree in Madison.
The award-winning trees were grown on Vander Velden’s business, Whispering Pines Tree Farm. With nearly 120,000 trees, the Oconto County tree farm was considered one of the state’s biggest. Between the 200-acre tree farm and their retail tree lot in DePere, Vander Velden sold around 6,000 a year.
“Between the tree farm and our retail lot, we were selling a tree every 20 seconds,” Vander Velden said. “It was just getting to be too much to handle year-round. It was time to retire.”
He sold the farm in 2019 but kept a few acres for himself and his dad. On a six-acre parcel, Vander Velden says there were a handful of trees that he deemed genetically superior.
“I knew I had a really nice tree among that group that I had been watching for about 15 years. I was going to save it, thinking I may win another trip to the White House but then I retired before that happened,” Vander Velden said.
Looking beyond the branches
Henry Schienebeck also knows a good tree when he sees it.
As the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, the former logger has donated countless hours over the years to assist in locating, harvesting and transporting the trees to the Capitol and Executive Residence.
Also on the hunt for the “perfect tree” is Darrin Smith, the Department of Administration’s building and grounds superintendent for the Capitol, who oversees the endeavor each fall.
To make the preliminary grade, the trees must be a Balsam Fir, as it is the only species flexible enough to squeeze through a narrow chute inside the narrow Capitol doorways. The tree must be approximately 35-45 feet tall with full branches throughout and have a good color.
“I go with Darrin every year and look at the trees that I find and those that he finds. As a former logger, I tend to notice things that others don’t when looking at a tree,” Schienebeck said.
The tree should have supple needles, with none falling off when pulled. The tree is also examined for dead or bare spots that are difficult to correct with extra branches and should be free of nests or other wildlife.
Schienebeck also examines the trunk and base closely for signs of ant damage.
“Sometimes ants get in the tree and eat the heart out, leaving a hollow spot inside,” he said. “If there’s enough height, we may be able to trim that part off the tree so it’s able to absorb water once we get it in the stand.”
Vander Velden says the 25-foot-tall evergreen has never been sheared, resulting in a full, natural appearance.
Sending another tree to Madison
The Oconto County tree farmer says many people have asked how he could bear to cut down such a beautiful tree.
“I’ve cut down a lot of beautiful trees in my lifetime. It’s like a farmer bringing his cattle to market, someone gets to enjoy it,” he said. “If I left the tree out in the field, no one gets to enjoy it.”
Over the years, Schienebeck and his crew have perfected the task of harvesting the tall tree. Using a crane, the 1,500-pound tree is lowered, bundled and loaded onto the bed of a 24-foot trailer and covered with a tarp proclaiming the precious cargo beneath is the Wisconsin State Capitol Holiday Tree.
When Schienebeck first started looking at trees 15 years ago, he made arrangements for someone else to transport the trees to Madison. Today, he makes the drive himself.
“When people see the tree they get really excited,” he said. “There’s a lot of thumbs up and horns blowing as they pass.”
Vander Velden is also looking forward to attending another tree-lighting ceremony.
“It’s our donation to the state,” he said. “It’s for the people of Wisconsin to decorate and enjoy.”
This year the 2025 State Capitol Holiday Tree is designated as “The Learning Tree” and Gov. Tony Evers has invited students to contribute handmade ornaments celebating and thanking Wisconsin’s educators, child care providers, administrators, custodians, school bus drivers, counselors, librarians, mentors and all the heroes in their lives who help them learn as well as support, educate, empower and inspire them.
“Kathy and I are both really looking forward to seeing all of the amazing ornaments kids from across Wisconsin will be sending in to help decorate the tree in the Capitol this year to help celebrate learning and the people who make it happen,” wrote Evers in a letter sent to students and educators.
Contact Colleen Kottke at 920-517-2653 or ckottke@gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @ColleenKottke.
.
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: Oconto tree farmer sends tree he watched for 15 years to Madison so ‘someone gets to enjoy it’
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
