WHAT:
With the holiday season just around the corner, Gov. Mark Dayton’s home will soon become festive. A large balsam fir will be cut down in the Nemadji State Forest that will be the Christmas tree on the front grounds of the governor’s residence in St. Paul.
WHO:
DNR forestry and Conservation Corps of Minnesota will cut and load the tree.
WHEN:
Friday, Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m.
WHERE:
The tree is located in the Nemadji State Forest. Media should meet at 9:30 a.m.
outside the Duquette General Store, 88235 Minnesota Highway 23, Duquette,
MN 55756 and then drive to the site.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The 2016 Christmas tree for the governor’s residence is a balsam fir from the Nemadji State Forest. This tree is 30 feet tall and estimated to be 40-45 years old. Each year, DNR staff and the Conservation Corps of Minnesota cut the tree on the Friday before Thanksgiving. But, the search for just the right tree begins months before. DNR foresters keep an eye out for a tall tree that’s nicely shaped and well filled out. The tree also needs to be in a location where it will not be damaged when dropped and then easily pulled out and loaded onto a trailer.
The tree will be set up at the governor’s official residence, 1006 Summit Ave., St. Paul, around
9 a.m., Monday, Nov. 21. The tree will be lit Dec. 1. More information and details on viewing the tree is at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/
Each holiday season, half a million Christmas trees are harvested from private tree farms in Minnesota, contributing about $30 million to the state’s economy. For each tree harvested, one to three trees are replanted. Real Christmas trees store carbon during their lifespan. They can be chipped for mulch when the season is over, making them an environmentally friendly choice.
NOTE
Video and photos of the tree being cut and loaded will be available at http://mediaroom.dnr.state.mn.
DNR NEWS – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Adam Murkowski, big game program leader, 651-259-5198,
[email protected].
