Local tree farm gets rush of customers to start the holiday season

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - With Thanksgiving behind us, it’s full speed ahead into the holiday season; and what better way to do so than finding the perfect Christmas tree.

People from all over Nebraska and northern Kansas come to Hastings to pick out a Christmas tree from Pine Patch Tree Farm.

“This opening weekend, I’m anxious to see how we’re sitting right now as it is, but I would hope that after this first weekend we should be pretty close to being sold out,” said co-owner of Pine Patch Tree Farm, Joe Kindig.

Kindig has over 500 City of Michigan trees shipped in, and about 100 sold off the tree patch. Acquiring a tree from the patch has become a tradition for some families.

“We’ve been doing this every since I can remember from when I was young,” said customer Maria Duke. “We always get our Christmas tree and we’re always like ‘It has to be a real tree.’ Because we enjoy all the things that come with a real tree and decorating it, and putting lights on and obviously the smell of a new Christmas tree smell is my favorite of all-time.”

Kindig is happy to be apart of some families tradition.

“I’ve said since we owned the tree farm out here that we don’t have any customers; all we have is friends making traditions,” Kindig said. “So my staff is phenomenal at being able to help making that a special tradition and I think that that’s really what’s the special thing out here. Is no exchange of money, only an exchange of a friendship and be apart of their families and watching them grow.”

For some a fake tree just doesn’t bring the holiday spirit.

“Fake trees they’re just..it loses its luster,” said customer Kodi Foote. “It’s the spirit of coming and with your loved ones and coming picking the spirit of Christmas in your Christmas tree. That’s a wonderful thing, every every every year it’s the highlight of our year.”

Trees prices vary but those grown on the patch are between $65 to $115.

City of Michigan trees start as low as $85 to $350.

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