Last Updated on November 20, 2018 11:35 am
The 2018 White House Christmas Tree from Avery County was presented on Monday.
The tree came from the farm of the National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA) Grand Champion Christmas Tree grower Larry Smith, of Mountain Top Fraser Fir in Newland. White House staff made the selection of the tree on Monday September 24 and it was cut on November 14.
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were both on hand as the tree arrived to the White House.
After five attempts in the National Tree Contest, Smith said “I feel as though I have finally won the Super Bowl. It’s a great honor to represent the Christmas tree industry by providing the Official White House Christmas Tree in 2018.”
Since 1966, members of the National Christmas Tree Association have presented the official White House Christmas Tree for display in the Blue Room. Each year NCTA hosts a national tree contest at which growers, industry experts and consumers vote to select the Real Christmas Tree grower who will provide the official White House Christmas Tree. To qualify for the national contest, growers must first win their state or regional competitions.
2018 marks the 53rd year a member from the National Christmas Tree Association has presented the official White House Christmas Tree.
President Trump and the First Lady Participate in the White House Christmas Tree Delivery https://t.co/O6Nr8k1mnu
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 19, 2018
The @WhiteHouse is getting ready for the Christmas season! Thank you to the Smith Family & the National Christmas Tree Association for providing this year's tree. And to our @NatlParkService for their hard work in trimming the tree for the Blue Room. pic.twitter.com/jiyYBwCeXO
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) November 19, 2018
