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Pasco Farmers To Present Christmas Trees To Crist

Tribune photo by CHRISTINE DELESSIO

Lacoochee Elementary Kindergarten students Beautiful Hernandez, 6, and Mario Campos, 5, help carry Governor Charlie Crists Christmas tree at the Ergle Christmas Tree Farm Tuesday.

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By CATHERINE DOLINSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Pasco County tree farmers will present locally grown Christmas trees to Gov. Charlie Crist and other top state officials at the state Capitol today.

Tony and Debbie Harris, owners of Ergle Christmas Tree Farm near Dade City, will present five 8- to 10-foot Southern red cedars and Carolina sapphires to Crist and other state officers, including Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson and Attorney General Bill McCollum.

One of the cedars will grace a spot just outside the governor's office in Tallahassee.

It's not the first time the couple have made the trek.

They brought trees to then-Gov. Lawton Chiles every year from 1994 to 1997, having won statewide competitions among Florida's Christmas tree farmers for the honor. They also provided a tree to then-Gov. Jeb Bush. The Florida Christmas Tree Association asked them to repeat the tradition this year.

"It helps your farm," Tony Harris said Wednesday. "I had three TV stations here yesterday when we were cutting the governor's tree down."

Kindergarteners from Lacoochee Elementary were on hand to cheer them on. Teacher Carol Boyett said the 15 children learned a lot about tree farming and their state.

"I told them Monday we were going to chop down the tree for the governor," said Boyett of Dade City, a high school pal of Debbie Harris. "I showed them a map of the state and told them he was the boss of the state — I think they got the picture after that. …They started clapping; they were just thrilled."

Tony Harris said it has been a good year for Florida's tree farmers. "We got pretty good rain this year; that's the most important thing when you're trying to grow these trees."

Despite a tough economy, sales are "wonderful."

"Last year it was slow," he said. "I think everyone's feeling a little better for some reason — maybe now that the president is changing hands and the economy is going in a different direction.

"I think everyone needs some hope that things are going to get better," Harris said. "That's the true meaning of Christmas."

Reporter Catherine Dolinski can be reached at (850) 222-8382.

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