Oklahoma growers want their trees to be a part of your holiday season.

By Mike Nichols

8 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 While you may not have started your Christmas shopping and other Sequoyah County Farm Bureau member Matt Jarvis serves as vice preparations, a small group of Oklahomans has been busy since last president of the OCTA, and this Christmas season will be the second he year’s Yuletide with its efforts directed toward December 25, 2008. and his family will have trees ready for harvest. The 27 member-growers of the Oklahoma Christmas Tree “OCTA is working hard to promote Oklahoma-grown Christmas Association (OCTA) hope a tree from one of their “choose and cut” trees,” said Matt, whose operation is located near Muldrow about 5 1/2 farms will be the centerpiece of your holiday decorations. miles north of Interstate 40 on state Highway 64-B. Those producers should have more than 6,500 fresh, Oklahoma- “We’re all so spread out that we’re not really competitors. We help each grown trees available for this year’s Christmas season. other by sharing information and learning from each others’ mistakes.”

Julie and Matt, who reside north of Muldrow, are members of Sequoyah County Farm Bureau. The Christmas tree growers can be reached by telephone at 918-427-5913.

Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 • 9 Matt’s tree plot occupies only a small portion of his 10 acres, but County countryside about five years ago after living in urban Fort Smith contains hundreds of pines and cypresses in perfectly straight rows for about seven years. stretching from the east to the west. “We decided to move to the country. It’s better for the boys to “We only had 100 trees ready last year, and we sold every one of grow up in the country,” he said. them. We’ll have 250 ready this year.” Matt is a native of Rush Springs, and toiled in the watermelon The Jarvis family always had real Christmas trees for the patches there as a young man. He relocated to the Fort Smith, Ark., holidays, and when Matt noticed an announcement for a meeting area after graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1996 with a of the state tree association he decided to attend. degree in management information systems. After attending the meeting, he remembers that “we decided to go He is employed by ABF Freight in Fort Smith and writes ahead and try it.” computer programs to support the freight transportation business. The family put in its first trees in February 2004. Their bareroot, “That’s my day job,” said Matt. “It allows me to come out here.” 6- to 8-inch-tall Virginia and Scotch Pines were purchased from the Matt and his wife, Julie, who is a nurse, and their three sons, Oklahoma Forestry Department nursery near Golsby. Leyland Cypress Justin, 12, Jonathan, 11, and Jacob, 9, moved to the Sequoyah trees now in the lot are purchased in containers from a grower near Little Rock, Ark. Gophers almost doomed that first planting, gobbling up the trees from their underground burrows and forcing Matt to become a trapper to save his trees. “I learned real quick how to trap gophers,” he remembers. Admitting that “we didn’t know anything about it,” Matt and his THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE to become a Christmas tree grower? family learned quickly by trial and error plus lots of reading OCTA Members of the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association (OCTA) manuals, visiting with other growers and attending Oklahoma State welcome new growers into their fold. “There is room for more growers in Oklahoma. We’re trying to promote University seminars. the growing of trees,” said Matt Jarvis, OCTA vice president. “We’re One thing Matt learned was to abandon the Scotch Pines. They take working with OSU.” about eight years to mature, while the Virginia Pines and Leyland You can visit the association at okchristmastree.com and find Cypress are ready to harvest in four or five years. information about becoming a member and starting your own farm. The two-acre tree plot is a family affair. Matt does most of the Craig McKinley, a professor and Extension Forestry specialist at Oklahoma State University, works closely with the association and will shearing of the trees with a saje – a motorized, backpack tool with a host a seminar for growers and potential growers Nov. 8 in Stillwater. 6- to 7-foot-long bar used to shape and mold them into perfect He said the seminar will begin at 9 a.m. and finish at 3 p.m. on campus Christmas trees. Trees are sheared twice a year – the end of May and in Ag Hall, Room 014. early August – but if it’s really wet they’ll also get a “half shear” to keep Some of the topics to be discussed include the history of the industry, them in shape. species selection, site preparation, planting and spacing, early care, site maintenance, irrigation, pests and pesticide applications, shearing, Everyone pitches in to help plant new trees and work during the coloring, sales management, marketing, liability and insurance and holiday season, and the boys keep the plot mowed. “The boys are a lot record keeping. “Obviously, we can’t cover all topics in detail but I do plan to introduce each of these topics to attendees,” said McKinley. To register for the seminar or to obtain further information, call McKinley at 405-744-8065. Matt reviews information from the OSU Extension Service on growing Christmas trees. He put in his first crop of seedling trees in 2004 and became active in the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association. Matt now serves as vice president of the association.

10 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 Matt and Julie pose in front of the building that serves as Bottom: Evergreen Acres Tree Farm, located outside of their holiday office. They also sell tree stands, wreaths, Muldrow, has about two acres of pine and cypress trees decorations and candles made by Matt’s mother. planted. As many as 250 trees are expected to be Shoppers also are treated to free hot chocolate and apple harvested this Christmas season. cider while all children receive free candy canes.

Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 • 11 of help,” says Matt. “That’s the main reason we’re doing this, the boys. I wanted the boys to know how to work. “We plant in February and March. When the grass starts growing you need to keep up with mowing and spraying. That time is really busy, but for the most part growing trees is not an everyday job.” The area generally receives ample rainfall so they don’t irrigate, and the fertile soil has yet to require any fertilizer. But there are herbicides IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY PLAN to visit a Christmas tree farm to and pesticides that must be applied; however, Matt has a bunch of free- select your holiday tree, the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association range chickens that help keep pesticide applications to a minimum. (OCTA) and the National Christmas Tree Association offer these hints for “They grow pretty fast,” said Matt, “about a foot per year. You don’t selecting your tree. want them to grow too fast, so you have to restrict the top growth and • Measure the ceiling height in the room where the tree will be shape them. They just don’t grow on their own. I wish it was that easy.” displayed. Trees in a field tend to look small when the sky is the ceiling. But, he is quick to add that “it’s relaxing to get out there after sitting • Measure the width of the area of the room where the tree will be all day in front of a computer.” displayed. Many trees on tree farms are trimmed to an 80 percent taper, One of the last chores he’ll do before the Christmas season is to so a tree that’s 10 feet tall could be 8 feet wide at the bottom. spray the pines with a green pigment in late September or early • Consider the decorating theme you plan to use. Some species have October. The pines naturally begin to turn a bit yellow as fall more open foliage, stiffer branches or longer needles. Research the characteristics of the different species on sites like approaches, and the pigment keeps the trees at their natural deep realchristmastrees.org. green color. • Find a farm near you that has the species you’re looking for. When you get your new tree home, follow these tips: • Place your tree in a bucket of water or your tree stand when you arrive home. If you purchase your tree from a retail lot, make a fresh, straight cut across the trunk about an inch up from the original cut before placing it in water. Never let the container holding your tree dry out or a seal will form and a new cut will be necessary. Fresh trees are thirsty and may drink from a pint to a gallon or more of water each day, so water daily. • Don’t add anything to the tree’s water. Research has shown that plain tap water is by far the best. Some additives and home concoctions can actually be detrimental to a tree’s moisture retention and increase needle loss. • Keep the tree well away from heat registers, space heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, televisions, computer monitors and other heat sources. These will speed up evaporation and moisture loss of the tree. “A real tree will burn, but no more than anything else,” said OCTA Vice President Matt Jarvis. “We stress to keep them watered, and there won’t be any problems. A fresh tree will stay fresh through Christmas, but if they run out of water they will dry out.”

Matt stands next to a Leyland Cypress tree that likely will find its way into someone’s home for Christmas 2008.

12 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 When the Christmas season gets close, Matt and his family will measure each tree and affix a price tag. Trees sell for $6 per foot when customers come calling. They open their Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm two weekends prior to Thanksgiving for pre-tagging. That allows customers to come and select their tree, pay for it and continue with their other Pine and cypress trees holiday activities. of varying sizes stretch in straight lines on The lot then opens on weekends from Nov. 23 to Dec. 23 plus Evergreen Acres Tree corresponding Friday afternoons. Friday hours are between 1 and 6 Farm near Muldrow. p.m. It is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. About 250 trees at the “It is,” says Matt, “a choose and cut farm that provides your family “choose and cut” operation will be with the experience of visiting a Christmas tree farm and selecting your available this holiday own tree.” season. “Families like the experience of going to cut a tree,” says Julie. “It was exciting to open last year. A lot of families and a lot of kids came Matt makes sure this Christmas-tree-to-be is out. We knew a lot of the people that came out and a lot of our friends secured to a stake, came out. assuring the tree will “It was,” she said, “a nice surprise. The word is getting around.” grow straight and be someone’s pick of the lot “You can go anywhere and get a tree,” agrees Matt. “But you can in a few years.

Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 • 13 come out here and get a fresh tree and be doing something the family can do together. People enjoy it.” Many of their customers last year came from Fort Smith, Sallisaw and Roland, but the bulk came from nearby Muldrow. Evergreen Acres allows customers to cut their own trees, or a WANT A FRESH, OKLAHOMA-GROWN CHRISTMAS TREE? member of the Jarvis family will gladly wield the saw. Each tree goes on The following farms are the members of the Oklahoma Christmas Tree a mechanized shaker to rid it of any loose needles and dust before Association. They offer you and your family the opportunity for a holiday being baled in a protective mess wrap for transportation. They even outing and a freshly-cut tree for your home. The farms, their location and telephone contacts for information are: provide a tie-down for the trunk if the buyer comes in a car. • All Pine Products, Yukon, 405-324-1010. “A trunk can hold a 6-foot tree,” said Matt. “You don’t have to have a • CAL2HOMA Christmas Tree Farm, Gore, 918-489-2876. big truck or SUV.” • Canadian Valley Tree Farm, Lexington, 405-872-8255. “It’s a tradition,” says Julie of the family outing to select a tree. “It’s a • 7 C’s Christmas Trees, Mounds, 918-366-3330. family trip. Families seem to like the experience of going to cut a tree.” • Coffee Creek Christmas Tree Farm, Arcadia, 405-396-2282. • D&H Christmas Tree and Wreaths, Fletcher, 580-549-6994. Naturally, Matt implores everyone to put up a real tree at Christmas • Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm, Muldrow, 918-427-5931. • Forest Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, Broken Arrow, 918-266-6001. • Four Daughters Tree Farm, Norman, 405-329-7152. • Goddard Tree Farm, Norman, 405-364-0320. • Grandpa’s Christmas Tree Farm, Claremore, 918-341-6034. • Hideaway Christmas Tree Farm, Bristow, 918-352-2162. • Holiday Valley Farm, Perry, 580-336-2350. • JANDA Bend Christmas Tree Farm, Stilwell, 918-458-0834. • Martinbird Tree Farm, Tuttle, 405-381-2910. • Owasso Christmas Tree and Berry Farm, Owasso, 918-272-9445. • Pleasant Valley Farms, Sand Springs, 918-248-5647. • Red Barn Christmas Tree Farm, McAlester, 918-548-3347. • Rose Rock Enterprises, Norman, 405-321-1863. • Sandy Hills Christmas Tree Farm, Blair, 580-563-2017. • Santa’s Forest, Ponca City, 580-765-9441. • Sorghum Mill Christmas Tree Farm, Edmond, 405-340-5488. • The Christmas Tree Farm, Purcell, 405-527-5873. • Double T Christmas Tree Farm, Glencoe, 918-454-2252. • W6 Pines Christmas Tree Farm, Choctaw, 405-390-8635. • White’s Christmas Tree Farm, Noble, 405-364-6751. • Woodland Tree Farm, Skiatook, 918-396-0215.

Matt and Julie have had many signs like this one manufactured in anticipation of this year’s Christmas season. They plan on advertising more this year, which is their second to harvest trees.

14 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 instead of an artificial one. His motives aren’t entirely selfish. dangerous toxins in a fire. The bulk of the artificial trees come from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong “A real tree will burn, but no more than anything else. We stress to or China and are made of plastics and metals that aren’t biodegradable. keep them watered and there won’t be any problems. A fresh When disposed of – and everyone eventually will have to dispose of tree will,” declared Matt, “stay fresh through Christmas if their artificial trees – they will never deteriorate, with effects on the they keep them watered.” environment remaining for generations. “Those fake trees are made of petroleum products and have a high lead Matt said a tree obtained at nearby “choose and cut” farm content,” said Matt. “I try to encourage everyone to put up a real tree.” is better than other real trees purchased at stores or lots. He also takes issue with the many video stories airing during the Most of those trees come from big farms in Oregon, Michigan Christmas season about the extreme fire dangers of real trees. They will or North Carolina and are cut two to four weeks before finding a retail burn, but so will an artificial tree. Many artificial varieties emit home, and have never been in water after harvest. “If you have a choice, cut a fresh tree,” he concluded. “They last the These pines were sheared to the ideal shape for a Christmas tree in August, and still longest. Those that have been cut for up to a month give people a exhibited a few brown tips as a result of their shaping. The brown tips were completely gone by mid September. bad impression.”

Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 • 15 16 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 • 17 All AroundOklahoma

Flatbed owners get insurance premium break

klahoma Farm Bureau Insurance now amount, and would be rated at the standard have been notified of the change and will be offers a money-saving break on pickups additional equipment rate. reviewing their members’ policies to make Oand trucks by exempting the premium “Any premium amount showing on the adjustments for those that qualify for the for the first $4,000 of coverage for flatbeds policy declaration page will only be for the allowance. that are listed as additional equipment. amount over $4,000,” he added. Policyholders also can contact their agent “The change is for both new business and Gaughan said Farm Bureau has over 3,200 for information. existing policies,” said Jeff Gaughan, vice policies in force with flatbeds listed as “Insureds should list the flatbeds as president of underwriting for the additional equipment. additional equipment if they are not already largest Oklahoma-based All members of the listed,” Gaughan said. property and casualty statewide Farm Bureau Toolboxes, feeders, hoists, bale spikes or insurance Insurance agency force other additional accessories that have been company. “It will added to flatbeds need to be listed separately be a nice break.” and are not included in the Gaughan said he premium exemption. believes Oklahoma Farm Bureau Oklahoma Farm Bureau Insurance clients who Insurance is the have flatbeds on their tucks now receive a only company in the money-saving break on their policies. The first state to offer this policy feature. $4,000 on those vehicles listed as additional equipment is excluded and will be provided at no premium “The first $4,000 of coverage on the charge. The change came as a result of delegates to the flatbed will be provided at no premium Oklahoma Farm Bureau convention asking the insurance charge,” he explained. “The premium charge company to exclude flatbeds as additional equipment on will only apply to any amount in excess of that trucks and pickups.

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I wan cl t to s aim w hare ith F with years arm you t and Bure he pl but had h au. I easan I wa oped have t sur s not to n been prise In that ever insu I re May luck need red ceive of m , a ha y. you by Fa d wh Representative lauds Claims y ho il sto r ser rm en I a me rm o vices Bure filed nd I as we ccur due au fo a mad ll as red i to a r sev response to storm damages us e the seve n Pra loss. eral on th drea ral o gue, Grea o e cla ded f my Okla t tho f ca ims call renta hom ught Editor’s Note: The unsolicited letter at ll to o depa to m l ho a, th , ther rtme y age uses at da right was sent to Oklahoma Farm Bureau Your insu nt. I nt, w that mag o clai ranc say “ ho a you i ed th n ou ms re e com drea fter o nsure e roo Executive Director Matt Wilson Aug. 18. r cla pres pan ded” ur co . My f pat ims. entat ies an beca nver wife ient She w ive, d it use I satio The letter’s author is the Minority Leader of w in an as v Felec was have n dir e pr swer ery p ia E neve ma ecte ovid ing o rofe chell r ple de th d the Oklahoma House of Representatives ed m ur q ssion e, wa asan is typ We w ore i uesti al in s ver t. e Danny Morgan, who represents district 32. ere nform ons a her y pro dama also atio nd m deali mpt ged work n to ade ngs w in he ba due t ing o her a seve ith u r ac cks. I o the n a c bout ral fo s. Sh tion I even stor laim our p llow e wa need had m. It for m rope up ca s ed. to ge has b y mo rties. lls to Danny Morgan W t a m een ther’ us a e co anag what s hom s P uld er in I dre e w lease not h volve ade hich tha ave h d to d, de was car nk ev ad a fina lays a also ing th eryo mor lly ge nd n at th ne in e ple t the o ca ey s volve asan assi ll howe d at t exp stanc d to Farm erien e tha us. Bur ce s t eau ettlin for th g ou e pro r loss fessi . onali Since sm a rely, nd Dan 18 • Oklahoma Country • Fall 2008 ny M organ