When Dale Haney, the White House superintendent of grounds, stepped onto a snow-dusted plot of farmland in Montcalm County earlier this week, he wasn’t just inspecting a tree, he was fulfilling one of the season’s most visible national traditions, choosing the next official White House Christmas tree.

Haney made the selection Tuesday at Korson’s Tree Farms, a family-run operation in Sidney, Michigan. The chosen tree, a 20-plus-foot Concolor fir, will be displayed in the Blue Room of the White House during the 2025 holiday season.

“This is really, really special for us,” said Jessica Korson, who owns the farm with her husband Rex. “We’re just a teeny, tiny little town, and we’re going to represent in the White House,” according to Fox 17.

Rex added, “I can’t say enough about our employees. They’re just amazing, the hard work that they put in day after day,” according to Fox 17.

The tree was selected after the Korsons earned the Grand Champion title at the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) competition, held earlier this year. That win put them in the running to provide a tree for the White House, an opportunity awarded to the NCTA’s top grower each year.

A Tree Worth Waiting For

The Concolor fir selected by Haney is approximately 22 years old and known for its uniform shape, strong limbs, and citrus-like fragrance. Dale Haney surveyed multiple trees on the farm before tying a red, white and blue ribbon around the winner, a symbolic gesture marking the official selection, according to Fox 17.

The tree will remain in the ground for several more weeks before being harvested, wrapped, and shipped to Washington, D.C., ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. It will be delivered to the White House via horse-drawn carriage and formally presented to the First Lady.

“We knew this tree was special,” Jessica Korson told Michigan Farm News. “It’s been part of our farm for two decades, and to see it reach the White House is beyond anything we imagined.”

Rex also credited the broader agricultural community. “This recognition isn’t just for us, it’s for the whole Michigan Christmas tree industry. We’re proud to showcase the quality we grow here in our state,” according to Michigan Farm News.

A Rare Honor for Michigan

This is only the third time a tree from Michigan will be featured in the White House Blue Room since the tradition began. The last Michigan-grown tree selected came from the Upper Peninsula in 1989, according to the White House Historical Association.

“This is a big deal,” said Marsha Gray, executive director of the Christmas Tree Promotion Board and a Michigan native, in an interview with Michigan Farm News. “It speaks volumes about the quality of trees grown in Michigan and the dedication of growers like the Korsons.”

The Korsons have participated in NCTA competitions for over a decade. They were named Reserve Grand Champions in 2015 but had never secured the top honor until now.

Roots of a White House Tradition

While Americans have long associated Christmas trees with the holiday season, their presence in the White House dates back more than 130 years.

According to the White House Historical Association, the first documented indoor Christmas tree in the Executive Mansion was placed in 1889 by President Benjamin Harrison, decorated with candles for his grandchildren. Electric lights first appeared on the tree during President Grover Cleveland’s administration in 1894.

Despite a popular myth, there is no conclusive evidence that President Theodore Roosevelt banned Christmas trees from the White House. Historians say Roosevelt simply didn’t have one until his son Archie surprised the family by setting one up in a White House closet.

The idea of a centerpiece tree in the Blue Room began to take hold in the early 20th century. In 1912, children of President William Howard Taft arranged a tree there as a surprise for visiting cousins. By the 1960s, the tradition was formalized when the NCTA began providing the Blue Room tree annually.

Since 1966, the organization has awarded the honor to its Grand Champion grower, ensuring that each White House tree is selected through a highly competitive national process.

The Blue Room and Beyond

The Blue Room, located on the State Floor of the White House, is considered the most formal of the mansion’s three main parlors and has long been the site of the official White House Christmas tree. Because of the room’s size and oval shape, the tree must be both tall and precisely shaped to accommodate the traditional decorations and public display.