People’s Choice Results and Comments We have included the People’s Choice results and comments for all growers that participated in classes 1 – 11. This year we had all first-place winners for the green tree classes as the possible candidates for People’s Choice. As this is still a relatively new concept that we have implemented in just the last few years, we are constantly reviewing how to make more trees available for voting throughout the Fair while still making it easy, understandable, fair and efficient for our participating growers, Fair-goers and our staff. If you have any questions or comments regarding People’s Choice voting, please feel free to contact Kim Ustruck ([email protected]) or Danielle Ustruck ([email protected]) and we would be happy to answer any questions and will consider all feedback regarding People’s Choice. Thank you! With 11,234 total votes throughout the 12 days of the MN State Fair, here are the results: #1: Balsam Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 1053 votes #2: Any Other Species (Veitch Fir) from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 327 votes #3: Norway Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 415 votes #4: Siberian Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 473 votes #5: Meyer Spruce from Turck’s Trees - 360 votes #6: Scotch Pine from Wolcyn Tree Farms and Nursery - 960 votes #7: Fraser Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 1256 votes #8: White Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 2705 votes (PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER) #9: European Style (Siberian Fir) from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 553 votes #10: Korean Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 1664 votes #11: Canaan Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc - 1468 votes People's Choice 11 1 13% 9% 2 3% 3 4% 4 4% 10 5 15% 3%

6 9% 9 5%

7 11% 8 24% #1: Balsam Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. 1053 votes Because it’s classic Love the classic Balsam but left to grow out a bit for a more wild look Good volume Winner! Best for Christmas It’s symmetrical and nice Best balance/size I like the shape Because it’s fat God’s beautiful creation I liked #1 the best. Thank you. Wow! What a beauty! Because it is perfect Good shape Soft and grows fast Smooth Needle length, color, and shape Beautiful symmetry, needle length and color Best Christmas tree ever! Smell! Perfect Christmas tree Traditional I liked the fullness of it Lots of room for ornaments Beautiful So pretty Not 8. 8 is not a Christmas tree! Shape and color OMG – a perfect specimen! Yea! Full and fat on the bottom - uniform The perfect tree The shape is perfect Nice tree The most perfect tree I’ve seen I love a balsam with open spaces – like Charlie Brown tree, sort of, but a bit fuller, not so perfectly trimmed It’s nice Great scent. Nice, full tree with branches for ornament hanging Awesome Beautiful! Perfect shape! I like the shape and that the needles weren’t really stiff and pokey Because it smelled good Soft and full Good smells Perfect shape, color, and size Reminded me of Christmas! Good color and shape! Very full and straight Lovely! Always loved this kind of tree It smells like my childhood Christmases Reminds me of my Christmas tree Symmetrical, gorgeous green, full, and wide Is very full and not very prickly Good for hanging ornaments So symmetrical! #2: Any Other Species (Veitch Fir) from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. 327 votes Nice tree Smells so good! It smelled the best Childhood! My cabin was in Sandstone! Best one is #2! Beautiful! Love the old-fashioned look Excellent form Oh La La! It’s got a great top Space for ornaments Thank you Smells like gin! Juniper! It smells the best Veitch fir! I never see these! The best Easy to show ornaments So unique! Beautiful. The best! It is very symmetrical So beautiful Love that it changes from green to blue depending on light Form, needle length made me think Christmas!

#3: Norway Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees 415 votes It would look beautiful without ornaments, just a ton of twinkle lights It looks fake Because it is soft Norway all the way! It is so soft. And, I’m Norwegian! Grew up with a Norway So fluffy Made my beer taste better I like the fine needles It’s beautiful and thick Puffy and beautiful Its got a fuzzy feel about it Big, fluffy, good for ornaments Good, red pine Beautiful Sense of quiet and relaxing It’s super fluffy Smells good Love how fluffy Grew up with the Norway Pine – wonderful memories

#4: Siberian Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees 473 votes So soft and spicy! So great Very soft Cute little pine So soft Soft needles Soft, strong and best color Soft needles, great aroma, beautiful shape Soft and sturdy So soft Great for hanging ornaments Super soft but strong enough for ornaments Love the texture and hangable spaces So soft! Exceptional shape and it feels like SILK! Love the shape and color Medium needles – not weak, long but not sharp New Siberian fir – so cool and different Because its classic Christmas Soft needles Soft, good space between branches and good for ornament display It’s a good one So soft Softest He’s cute Absolutely the softest tree It feels so nice It smells very nice and is soft Needles are so soft He is cute and symmetrical Soft needles Looks soft I picked this one because there are lots of open spaces for ornaments to hang I like it because it looks, feels, and smells like a Christmas tree Soft, love the color Great shape and smell! Unusual and natural and good for tinsel Sturdy, good blue color, excellent scent, beautiful growth, and spiders live in it. It has the softest needles and smelled like Christmas Really nice, green color The scrappy underdog! Love the color, softness of the needles while looking like a fir

#5: Meyer Spruce from Turck’s Trees 360 votes Although this one jumped out and bit my finger, it would support my ornaments. Can take of my many ornaments Beautiful and could decorate Such a cute tree! It’s short and floofy Because it’s pretty Feels like Christmas It’s a beautiful tree Branches strong to hold heavy ornaments Strong to hold ornaments. Attacked my friend. Very full, just enough imperfection for character Great for ornaments

#6: Scotch Pine from Wolcyn Tree Farms and Nursery 960 votes Grew up with a Scotch Pine at Christmas time! A classic! The best! Can’t find anymore. Perfect to decorate Perfect blend of happiness It’s Christmas Good floofer! Nice! It’s cool Soft and lush Because we live in Cambridge – love Wolcyns! Nice needle length – not too long, not too short Great shape Not fake looking! Fluffy yet pointy! Perfect shape Because it looks like a fluffy tree Because of the needles Looks like it’s from Ho the Grinch Stole Christmas Because it is fat and tall I love the texture and shape Because it is tall and bushy It’s so fluffy The shape and needles Full to center, thick branches, beautiful shape! Love the Scotch Pine trees – so hard to find these days It’s not pokey

#7: Fraser Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc 1256 votes Looks old timey Good shape, many strong branches for hanging ornaments Nice shape and plenty of space to hang ornaments Best shape/color with room for ornaments It makes me happy Branches are stronger for ornaments Perfect for hanging ornaments and really full

Needles are soft I love Frasers! Space for ornaments It’s very pretty It looks nice Perfect for hanging ornaments Luxurious branches but would decorate well Big Christmas vibes Like the shape I like the cute cones on it! It’s perfect Love the pinecones Beautiful color Frasers are the best Great shape and color Lots of room for ornaments Love the pinecones and the “white” under the needles Because of the blue color underneath the branch and the stiffness – I have heavy ornaments It was just really nice looking Perfect ornament tree Nice color and traditional look Great shape, nice for ornaments Reminds me of Christmas when I was younger It’s a dope tree Looks like the Christmas tree of my youth So many branches for oodles of ornaments! Well proportioned, good tree for hanging bulbs and tinsel Great smell Room for ornaments, nice fragrance, pretty pinecones, looks healthy Good for ornaments and longevity It’s got lovely branches for ornaments Nice conical form with spaces for ornaments Strong branches Lots of space to hang sparkling ornaments Perfect shape, soft needles, blue-green vivid color, strong branches for lights/ornaments Perfect shape and room for ornaments Strong boughs, space for ornaments The top is perfect Fraser fir because they are full, yet have room for ornaments Looks good. Good size. I like the distinct pine and height Love Fraser Fir, and the pinecones on it! It looks nice It speaks to me It’s really puffy Perfect Christmas tree #7 is the best!

#8: White Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees 2705 votes Soft Full, even, soft, tall, beautiful It’s so soft, full and perfect It’s fun to hug! I want to marry #8 Hands down, Jan is killing it It is a poofy So soft! Soft fuzzy! He’s so big and fluffy Well-formed tree He/she is very fluffy So pretty, round and soft! Lovely tree! Loved the long pine needles Because it looks fluffy Super fluffy! Uniform and soft She’s a soft beauty! Fuzzy boy #8 all the way It’s so fluffy! Because of it’s beautiful, soft needles Smells good, soft enough to put your face in without being poked “It’s so fluffy I wanna die!” – Despicable Me Its soft touch. Beautiful. Bushier = better Fluff!! So soft, so full. Super fluffy and soft My favorite Minnesota pine tree Soft and fluffy! Looks unique Perfect shape Full branches I want to hug this tree Nice, full, soft, and beautiful It’s so fluffy Very soft. Most beautiful tree. Gorgeous Softie Because it’s fluffy Furry like a dog Big softie Because it was interesting and different Looks like my yard was rolled up and made into a tree Beautiful/unique Because it’s full and beautiful Has a nice feel to it Straight out of the forest – so pretty It’s friendly So pretty! So lush So shaggy! Love the long needles (sentimental) So fluffy Teddy Bear tree! Give it a hug! Shape! Fluffy Feels like a cat So soft! Looks so perfect and soft Its shape is nice It’s so soft Dense structure and soft needles The color is beautiful! So full it almost looks fake! Full and friendly Are you kidding me? BEST! So soft and fuzzy Fluffy bunny love! Very full! Because he’s a happy, fluffy boy It’s fluffy What a unique shape for a white pine! It was very full and uniform around it Looks soft! It’s fluffy It’s fluffy It’s the best Fluffy Nice shape So soft and fluffy Full and soft Beautiful texture, color and shape. Very soft. Such a soft, fluffy beauty Best tree to pet No needle loss Wow, absolutely beautiful Looks like fur! So fluffy It’s fluffy What a nice tree Fluffy It’s beautiful and huggable Very, very fuzzy So good you need to hug it So soft Fluffy like a cat It’s so fluffy Full and fluffy It is so full and green in color Amazingly full, soft and conical! It is soft and huggable Super soft, fluffy, and inviting! B-e-a-utiful! So pretty! Fluffy So soft Was the softest, well done! Super soft and luxe Because it’s so thick and the needles are nice and soft Thick, tall, soft We love this one Stunning So soft and shapely It’s very nice and fluffy Smells like my childhood. So floofy and uniform! It’s so full! A bear could be hiding in the middle and you’d never know! Amazing tree. Great job! It’s soft and has a great shape! Plus, it just looks cool! I picked 8 because it is soft – although it may be more difficult to decorate with my decorations! The happiest, fuzziest tree! Thanks for the hug, tree! Because it looks full and very green Beautiful So fluffy Because it’s fuzzy. P.S. I’m a kid I want to hug it! Because my sister knows what she’s talking about #8 is majestic He’s puffy It feels like it would defend me from the monster under the bed, a la Sully from Monsters, Inc. It’s cool Lovely He fuzzy Perfect shape. Soft needles. I just want to give it a big hug Fluff It’s fuzzy and cute Feels so good It’s a Christmas miracle I like it because it is poofy So soft! My new tree friend! It’s so fluffy Because it feels like petting a puppy Soft tree The fullness and shape It’s so soft It’s so fluffy No need to decorate and so soft So fluffy! Soft! Bold and different! Symmetry, footprint, pleasing to the senses So fluffy It looks like the yellow mascot from Cricket Wireless Love White Pines So fluffy Fluffy! Beautiful and full. Looks happy! Oh, fir sure! #9: Siberian Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. 553 votes Because it looks more natural and the open shape is great for displaying large or hanging ornaments. Also, it smells amazing! Great top, smell, and overall unique It’s cute! The best because there is space to hang ornaments Just wonky enough Soft needles, pretty Because it is pretty I like the natural shape I like that it has room for ornaments – more open Unique needles and uniform shape Optimistic color and super natural look I like a more natural tree for a Christmas tree It has personality I like the in and out of the branches I love the Charlie Brown-ness of the tree Perfect for my big ornaments Love the European style Most room for ornaments to hang Color and different sizes of branches Love natural; imperfections Not so trimmed – more natural, smells good Because it could hold all the ornaments Beautiful texture and shape – you can hang ornaments in the open spaces Potential for hanging ornaments I pick 9 because it has character – not all of us can be perfect Love this one – you can hang ornaments and they’ll swing! Lovely character. A fine “crown” She’s quirky – doesn’t follow the rules, but she’s still soft Soft Soft, bright color, “real” – no cutting/trimming It looks like my idea of a Christmas tree Great for collection of old ornaments and tinsel! This tree is so stunning and perfect. It almost looks fake! Room to hang stuff It’s adorable Because it is short like me It’s beautiful At first, I laughed at it, and then I laughed with it, and now I feel very close with it. Smells SO nice! Because it is irregular Soft, smells good, beautiful The best little guy Love the color and shape – reminds me of the Christmas tree at Grandma’s house! Adorable, endearing, wistful, beautiful Looks good, smells great! I like natural

#10: Korean Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees 1664 votes Nice color and texture Great aroma! Soft to touch and traditional Christmas tree It is so soft, I wanna die! Handsome and thick

So full and beautiful Beautifully shaped – I like shorter needle trees Nice height, very full, soft Soft, short needles for decorations, nice shape Love the full ‘A’ shape to the tree Beautiful and green Christmas look Looks like a perfect Christmas tree Shape and soft needles It’s full and sturdy for hanging ornaments Beautiful It looks fake with how perfect it is Nice and full, easy to decorate Good shape, good needles Full, rich, green color Best shaping, smells great It’s gorgeous Smells good, perfectly shaped, and ample branches for ornaments My eyes were drawn to it when I first walked in Love the color, lots of branches for ornaments, soft to touch Perfect tree for decorating – Beautiful Beautiful color and will hold my ornaments Full and would look great decorated or plain It was nice and soft, and the needles couldn’t poke me Smells good The color is great! Interesting variety – unusual Beautiful!!! Soft needles, sturdy tree You’re amazing! Perfect for hanging ornaments Girthy, dense tree Smells nice, very dense, she cute Color, full but still good branches to hang ornaments Nice shape, branches, not too dense ‘Cause it’s pretty It’s a nice green and shiny, and fragrant Smells like Christmas Because of its fullness and color Because it smells so good Its got a nice shape and I’m partial to firs for scent Best for ornaments Beautiful Nice shape and would present ornaments nicely Beautiful and classic! Beautiful and smells so good Bright colored needles, nice shape Shape and texture Aroma! Amazing! Because it’s pretty For the fragrance, color and thick branches Best shape, color and support Soft and smelled amazing Beautiful Great for ornaments Full and beautiful It’s nubby Smells the best Nice and full and tall Beautifully different Everything I love about Christmas trees; little spaces for bulbs, delicious smell, and perfect for gazing up underneath Great circumference

#11: Canaan Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. 1468 votes Perfection Beautiful shape, full but still decoratable Beautiful color Very best Beautiful and fragrant It has my heart Color, shape, and type of needles Picture perfect Nice shape/soft I love it! #11 is MY winner! Beautiful and full from top to bottom Tall and full Beautifully full and beautifully shaped! Wonderful! Beautiful! Beautiful shape Great! The perfect Christmas tree shape Floofy and perfect Christmas tree shape #10 was a close second, but the color on this tree was a nicer, darker green We love Happy Land! Good shape. GREAT smell! This is a winner Most authentic in color and feel. Reminds me of picking out a Christmas tree Unusual variety – great symmetry Great shape In my opinion, the perfect Christmas tree The most beautiful! Pleasant to the eye Because it was the greenest and fullest Tall, full, nice dark green Perfect The color, the texture, the spread of the needles. Nice looking tree. Such dense perfection Great shape, good smell. Actually, the smell is the best part It’s so perfect Because it wasn’t pruned and very nice shape Thick, full, soft, smells good! Oof-dah! Amazing! Beauty and symmetry So pretty and full. I miss December. So soft and beautiful green Color, softness, fullness, and symmetry Beautiful Great looking tree Beautiful branches Great for hiding things inside Beautiful! Just perfect

General Comments not Associated with a Vote: Love the European style! I love non-shaped trees! More natural Please leave some trees gently sheared Siberian Firs are so cool! I like the un-sheared trees #8 is not Christmas! I came all the way from Seattle, WA (the “Evergreen State”) and they are ALL gorgeous! Canaan fir trees are perfect! Want! They are all so beautiful. Thank you for your hard work. It’s about time they got it right! Not so full and tightly sheared! (re: Krueger’s 12’ European style tree) Why are Norways no longer available? Blue Spruce is my favorite for decorating I like the open style of the European style trees because you can really display ornaments well on them Please do more European style! Great looking trees! (regarding European style) Love this style (European) and cannot find anywhere – quit trimming trees, leave natural. Easier for hanging ornaments The European style reminded me of my childhood in Germany Great for ornaments (regarding the European style trees) Love the open branches you can hang ornaments on. They have room to hang more.