Kasl Christmas Tree Farm Warms Hearts and Evokes Memories
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Kasl Christmas Tree Farm warms hearts and evokes memories By Lucas Shivers Hosting families each holiday season to select seasonal wreaths and trees, the Kasl Christmas Tree Farm near Belleville builds countless memo- ries and traditions. “My great-grandfather Ben Kasl started the tree farm in 1980,” Tyler said. “My grandpa Mike ran the farm until he passed away during the season two years ago. Now my grand- mother, Carolyn, and par- ents Scott and Laurie take it on with me. I guess that makes it a four-generation tradition.” Since selling their first tree in 1986, the farm has grown thousands of Scotch and Austrian pines. “These are ‘choose and cut’ options that families may cut using a hand- Carolyn Kasl makes bows to decorate the wreaths. saw right from the field, Scott Kasl presents a wreath to Gov. Laura Kelly at Cedar Crest. Photo by Laurie Kasl or we’ll cut it down for Photos by Courtney Artman them,” Tyler said. “We for quite a few fundraisers then shake the tree, wrap with many area schools it, and load them up be- and church groups.” fore sending them off with Tyler’s dad Scott pre- real holiday memories.” sented a 24-inch wreath of This farm has enjoyed Scotch Pine to Gov. Laura watching generations of Kelly at the Kansas gov- families return to each ernor’s mansion. Tyler’s year, plus meeting many grandpa, Mike, started new families just starting the Cedar Crest tree and the “real tree tradition.” wreath tradition. “We pull in folks from As a part of the Kan- all over Nebraska and sas Christmas Tree Grow- Kansas,” Tyler said. “They ers Association, the Kasls come for a real tree. Busi- also support the Trees for ness has picked up tre- Troops program by donat- mendously in the last few ing ten trees that are sent years.” to military bases. They Kasl’s ship in around sell teddy bears that help 200 pre-cut trees of Fraser to buy more trees for the Fir trees from Michigan military families. and 400 bundles of green- Future Focused ery. While the rush of the “We’ve sold out of our season is over for anoth- pre-cuts and over 120 er year, Tyler enjoys the trees from the field this end-of-year pace as being year,” Tyler said. “A lot of worth more than money. people remember a real “To be honest, it’s tree from their childhood. so fun to help everyone Now that they’re starting have memories,” he said. families, they want the “We’re working late nights tradition back.” and early mornings with- Scotch Pines are the out much sleep in the most common Christmas weeks before the holiday. trees grown in Kansas. We work full time jobs and They have medium length do this as well. So when needles and stiff branches Since 1980 the Kasl Christmas Tree Farm near Belleville has grown Scotch and Austrian pines for customers Dec. 25 comes around, well suited for both light from all over Kansas and Nebraska. Photo by Laurie Kasl we’re ready for a break.” and heavy ornaments. of the family operation also tie the leaders and Pines have excellent building a bulk of the clean up the bottoms. It’s needle retention and hold wreaths. a lot of work year-round.” up well. Austrian Pines “The farm’s owner, To help keep the clas- have long stiff needles Grandmother Carolyn, is sic trim triangle shape, with strong open branch- charged with bow making the pine trees must be ing habits. They retain and ‘fancy’ decorating,” sheared one time a year as their freshness well. Tyler said. the new growth of candles “Kansas is a good spot Tyler’s father, Scott, mature, usually in June. for the pines, but I wish puts together the Christ- “My dad and I used to we could grow the Fraser mas tree stands they build do it over four weekends Firs, a softer and more on site, and lights all the each summer, but for the fragrant tree,” he said. wreaths in decorations last few years, we’ve hired “We just can’t grow them for wholesale wreaths. Ty- a company with eight to because they burn up in ler’s mother, Laurie, fills nine guys who can get the August due to the summer in wherever needed from whole farm done in a few heat.” bow to wreath making or hours,” Tyler said. “I sort Starting Off ensuring the technical op- of miss doing it, but it’s The Christmas tree erations run smoothly. so nice to have it done farm has always been a All of the family mem- quickly.” family affair. bers that work at the farm The tools of the trade “Ever since Tyler could also have other full-time for trimming range based walk, he’s been out on the jobs. on your confidence and tree farm of over 15 acres. “I always wanted to experience. It is truly a family affair help out,” Tyler said. “We used a metal with each member playing “Planting was the best. weed-eater-looking thing, key roles in the business.” One year, we put in 2,200 called a Beneke, to trim Now in his mid-20s, Tyler Kasl fashions a wreath in his workshop. trees after not planting for them, but these guys use Tyler is an integral part a while when my grandpa the sharpest knives and Photo by Amy Hadachek, courtesy of Midwest Messenger was sick.” swing away so quick with branches,” Tyler said. “We The farm has a few “It’s always so fun. It’s Each spring, the farm a down stroke right by shape them up with a vari- employees who help clip just crazy, but the time usually plants 400-500 your leg,” he said. “I was ety of rings into so many branches of greenery and energy are all worth trees to grow for eight to too scared that I’d cut my different ideas beyond into nine to ten-inch piec- it,” Tyler said. “Folks ten years to get to the sale leg or definitely stab my- circles or swags.” es to be used to shape remember you and talk height. Kasl’s get seed- self so I stayed away from “We have hearts, snow- the wreaths. Their biggest about their trees. It’s so ling trees from a supplier those.” flakes, candy canes and so ring is 54 inch that turns cool to see the little kids called Evergreen Nursery The Kasls said they many other unique shapes out to be a wreath over with so much excitement. on the west coast. enjoy taking part and that we create and add five feet in diameter. I want to keep growing. “People keep wanting watching the full cycle of lights and decorations. “This year we’ll do over Everyone tells me I’m bigger and bigger trees growth each year. We sell a lot of them. The 1,000 wreaths and close crazy, but we’ll keep plug- and wreaths each year it “It’s awesome to look most popular ones range to 250 trees,” Tyler said. ging away at it.” seems, but most are sold out in the fields of trees,” around $25 for 12-inch.” “We supply the wreaths under seven feet,” he said. Tyler said. “We’ve had Trees from the field are some really nice weather often priced at around $8 this fall. I love seeing the Kansas Soybean Expo canceled for 2021 a foot. families who let the kids The 2021 Kansas Soybean Expo, which was scheduled for Jan. 6, has been can- Beyond the Season run around with laughter celed. While the main sell- and joy of having fun.” The Kansas Soybean Association Expo committee has been closely monitoring ing season starts around Creative Wreaths event guidelines related to the COVID-19 pandemic and decided to cancel the event the first of November and The farm has found in the best interest of attendees. goes right up until Christ- ways to branch out from Results of the yield and value contests have historically been announced during mas, the Kasls works year- just Christmas trees into the Kansas Soybean Expo luncheon. Though the announcement will come different- round. many different holiday ly, this year’s winners will still receive special recognition. “All summer long, we decorations. The KSA board of directors intends to have the annual membership meeting, mow the grass around “The wreaths basically which has always been in conjunction with Expo, in a virtual setting for those inter- the trees and spray for just start out when they ested in participating. More information about attending this online meeting Jan. 5 insects,” Tyler said. “We are shipped in as long will be made available to current KSA members directly. Page 2 Grass & Grain, December 22, 2020 of the work necessary for traditions to develop and flourish. Like everything else, Christmas as I know it didn’t just happen. My par- ents, with my mom doing the heavy lifting, spent countless hours planning, Gift of Tradition shopping, cooking, baking, By Greg Doering Toyota FJ40 wasn’t enough wrapping and organizing As Christmas draws to break us free. to make those traditions happen. closer, I can’t help but We sat there for what The other day I made a purchase that struck utter fear and dread in the heart think of the many holi- seem like hours as he I count these moments day traditions my family walked to my grandpar- among the greatest gifts of my husband.