Whitehouse Christmas Tree: 2001

Concolor Fir To Be Official 2001 White House Christmas Tree

It wasn’t that long ago that the Bowersox family dreamed of someday being chosen to present the White House Christmas Tree to the First Lady.

The dream will become reality on November 28, 2001. The Bowersox family was crowned National Christmas Tree Association Grand Champions last year, when they won the national Christmas Tree Contest.

Janice Bowersox, her son, Darryl, and his wife, Aimee hosted members of The White House staff at their Hill View Tree Farm just north of Middleburg, PA, in Snyder County. Chief Usher Gary Walters, Executive Groundskeeper Superintendent Irv Williams and Grounds Foreman Mike Lawn visited the Bowersox to select the official White House Christmas Tree and discuss the formal presentation with them.

We set this goal several years ago, said Janice Bowersox. Darryl and his dad had plans of doing this. We competed on the state level to become eligible for the national competition and we won it. It happened a lot sooner than we thought it would.

The Grand Champions will present the concolor fir tree to First Lady Laura Bush for display in the Blue Room of the White House. They will also present a tree for the First Family to enjoy at their private quarters in the White House.

"To win the first time we competed in the national competition is awesome", said Janice. "We were ecstatic."

She believes this year’s event will be truly special because of the unity of the country in the aftermath of the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.

"I think it makes it more special because the holidays will probably be even more significant for a lot of families this year," said Janice. "And we’ll be part of that. I feel very patriotic about it myself. It’s so wonderful to see everyone pulling together the way we are."

Hill View Tree Farm has about 150,000 Douglas-fir, concolor fir, Colorado spruce and white pine trees growing on 120 of its 239 acres. Three generations of the Bowersox family have run the farm since Darryl’s grandfather bought the land in 1954. In the mid 60s, the family started growing Christmas trees and Janice’s husband, Dennis, joined his father as a partner. When Janice married Dennis Bowersox, she became part of the business. Dennis has passed on, but Janice runs the farm today.

The fact that the tree that will sit in the White House will come from her farm is an overwhelming thought.

"It’s quite an honor to be representing the entire industry," said Janice. "It’s like being in the World Series -- top of the line."

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