The tree came from Korson’s Tree Farms in Sidney
The centerpiece of the White House Christmas display is also a reflection of the industry responsible for it.
First Lady Melania Trump received the 2025 White House Christmas tree – a 22-year-old, 20-foot concolor fir – on Nov. 24.
“What’s neat about a concolor fir is if you break the needles it smells like oranges,” Jessica Korson, co-owner of Korson’s Tree Farms in Sidney, Mich., told Farms.com.
Korson, her husband Rex, and their sons, Thomas and Jack, attended the reception ceremony in Washington.
It included a private tour of the White House, and a meeting with the first lady.
“She asked us about our farm and how long we’ve been in business,” Korson said. “It was an amazing experience for us to have that time with her.”
The third-generation farm has been in business since Rex’s father Wayne established it in 1973. Today, the wholesale farm produces 12 species of evergreens on more than 1,000 acres.
The tree farm won the reserve championship in 2015 and provided the vice president’s residence with its tree.
Winning the honor of providing the White House Christmas tree is no small task.
The Korsons competed at the state level and won the opportunity to provide Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s residence with trees this year.
Winning the state competition puts farms in the running for the national spotlight.
“Everything is judged by a panel of experts,” Korson said. “If you win your species category then it goes to a vote of the National Christmas Tree Association membership. We won with an 8-foot blue spruce and were named grand champion.”
After the grand champion is named, a representative from the White House visits the farm to select a tree.
“They actually sent their superintendent of the grounds,” Korson said.
That person is Dale Haney.
For more than 50 years he’s been responsible for 18 acres of White House gardens and grounds.
“He came in September to find a tree that would work with the Blue Room of the White House,” Korson said.
Jessica Korson (fourth from left), and others with Dale Haney (fourth from right), the superintendent of White House grounds, with the tree selected to be displayed in the White House. (Jessica Korson photo).
The tradition of placing a tree in the Blue Room started in 1912.
President Taft’s children placed a tree in the room as a surprise for guests while the president and first lady were away.
The team at Korson’s Tree Farms harvested the tree last week.
The tree went into an enclosed trailer, then a family friend drove it about 10 hours away to the White House.
Even the tree had a unique journey befitting of a president.
“The driver had to go through secret service checkpoints and got an escort to the White House,” Korson said.
When the tree arrives at the White House it’s placed on a horsedrawn carriage that brings it up the south drive to the first lady.
“It was surreal to see the tree come up the drive, knowing it’s our tree,” Korson said. “We couldn’t have done this without our fantastic crew, and we’re honored to help represent all American farmers at Christmas.”
After the ceremony ended, White House staff worked to bring the tree into the Blue Room.
And it took a little elbow grease.
“I think the doorway is maybe five feet wide and they’re trying to get this giant tree inside,” Korson said. “They strapped it down as small as it would go, put it on a tarp and brought it in. Then once it’s in there they’ve got a bunch of pulley systems that raise the tree into place.”
The Korsons will be back in Washington in December.
The first lady extended an invitation to the family to visit again once the tree is decorated and lit up.