Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 20, 2005
Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Announce 2005 Pennsylvania Farm Show Winners
Crystal Spring Tree Farm, Lehighton, Carbon County, exhibited the grand champion Christmas tree at the 2005 Pennsylvania Farm Show. The tree was a Douglas Fir and was selected as the winner from the nearly 1,500 votes cast by Farm Show visitors during the two-day voting period. The tree had first been selected as winner in its division by the professional judges, Erick and Gloria Sundback, Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Chris Botek, son of Francis and Margaret who founded the Christmas tree farm, said this was the first time the family exhibited at Farm Show. “We were surprised and really happy to find out that the public picked our tree as Grand Champion,” Chris said. Members of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association, the Boteks exhibited eight trees and placed in seven categories. Other placings were first place “Scotch Pine” and “All Other Pines”; second place “Canaan Fir and other True Fir”, and “All other Spruces”; third place “Fraser Fir”; and fifth place “Colorado Blue Spruce.”
Reserve grand champion honors went to Darryl L. Bowersox, Hill View Tree Farm, Middleburg, Snyder County, for his first place Concolor Fir.
Bowersox also showed the first place “Fraser Fir” and “Canaan Fir and other True Fir”; and second place “Colorado Blue Spruce.”
This is the only commodity at the Farm Show where the public
gets to choose the Grand Champion, after selections are made by professional
judges. It has been a popular activity for visitors since the Pennsylvania
Christmas Tree Growers initiated the practice in 1997.
Botek said his family is especially looking forward to entering the national
competition in 2006, where the winner gets to have a tree on display at
the White House.
When his father began Crystal Springs Farm in 1964, he planted mostly Douglas Fir, with a few Scotch pines. They added Fraser Fir about 20 years ago, and have added other varieties as well. Chris said the Douglas Fir is a west coast tree, but Pennsylvania has ideal growing conditions for it to flourish, and it remains one of their most popular trees, along with Fraser Fir. Their business includes ball and burlap, wholesale cut trees, and choose and cut.
While they had never previously entered Farm Show, Chris said they were overwhelmed with the numbers and the beauty of the trees they found when they arrived. He said there was a lot of excitement, and he was very pleased with the large crowds who wandered through the tree exhibit, asking questions about the different varieties.
There were 76 Christmas trees shown by 20 exhibitors from 12 counties at the Farm Show this year, topping 2004’s 61 entries from 16 exhibitors in 11 counties. This is the highest number of trees exhibited since 1999 when there were 85 trees entered.
Trees in the competition must have been grown in Pennsylvania on land owned and operated by the exhibitor and must be within six to eight feet. Trees may be either naturally grown or sheared and shaped by the exhibitor.
A listing of all winners by category follows:
Scotch Pine: 1. Francis Botek, 2. John McMeekin, John McMeekin Christmas Trees, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County; 3. Tom and Audrey Balthaser, Perry Valley Tree Farm, Millerstown, Perry County; 4. J.D. and Randy Fleming, Fleming’s Christmas Tree Farm LLC, Indiana, Indiana County.
Douglas Fir: 1. Francis Botek; 2. Bradley Berkey, Berkey’s Nursery, Spartansburg, Crawford County; 3. Richard McClellan, McClellan’s Tree Farm, Middleburg, Snyder County; 4. Darryl Bowersox; 5. Peter and Gregory Abraczinskas, Abraczinskas Nurseries, Inc., Catawissa, Columbia County.
Colorado Blue Spruce: 1. Bradley Berkey; 2. Darryl Bowersox; 3. Paul Shealer, Evergreen Acres Tree Farm, Auburn, Schuylkill County; 4. Jim Campbell, Heritage Acres Evergreens, Bloomsburg, Columbia County; 5. Francis Botek.
All other Spruces: 1. Peter and Gregory Abraczinskas; 2. Francis Botek; 3. Anson Proseus, Arrowhead Nursery, Ralston, Lycoming County; 4. Paul Shealer; 5. J.D. and Randy Fleming.
All Other Pines: 1. Francis Botek 2.Peter and Gregory Abraczinskas; 3. Tom and Audrey Balthaser; 4. Ron Huntzinger, Hidden View Nursery, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill County; 5. Paul Shealer.
Fraser Fir: 1. Darryl Bowersox; 2. Jim Campbell; 3. Francis Botek; 4. Tom and Audrey Balthaser; 5. Mark Zelazny, Quaker State Plantations, Bloomsburg, Columbia County.
Canaan Fir and Other True Fir: 1. Darryl Bowersox; 2. Francis Botek; 3. Jim Campbell; 4. Paul Shealer; 5. J.D. and Randy Fleming.
Concolor Fir: 1. Darryl Bowersox; 2. Jim Campbell; 3. Tom and Audrey Balthaser; 4. Richard McClellan; 5. Bradley Berkey.
Growing Pennsylvania Christmas trees is a $13.9 million business, ranking first nationally in the number of Christmas tree farms and fourth in total Christmas tree production.
(Ed. Note: Photographs of the grand champion tree are available upon request. Please contact Georgene Thompson, 717-243-1349, georgenethompson@comcast.net)
The Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association, with over 400 members, works to promote and develop a community of interest among growers of Christmas trees in Pennsylvania and adjoining states, as well as to raise public awareness about Christmas trees.
CONTACT: Georgene Thompson, 717-243-1349, georgenethompson@comcast.net