Each year, the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association (MNCTA) hosts a two-day convention and trade show ahead of the season, and this year, Guggisberg Tree Farm of New Ulm is hosting the event.

“It is an honor to have the convention here,” said Tony Guggisberg, the owner of Guggisberg Farm. He was proud to share his family farm with fellow growers who share a passion for Christmas trees.

“You learn a lot from growers,” Guggisberg said. “At these conventions, you learn a little bit of everything from herbicide control and pruning to sales and marketing.”

Around 90 tree farms are represented by MNCTA. Ann Marie Theien, executive director for MNCTA, said members from Wisconsin and South Dakota were also in attendance farms along the boarder tend to draw Minnesota customers. This year’s convention attendance was up compared to last year.

Travis Theien gives a garland making demonstration Friday during the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) hosted by Guggisberg Tree Farm. Theien demonstrated how to use a machine that would help tie the garlands.

Guggisberg said it was also unusual for the convention to be held this far south. Most of the Christmas Tree farms are located further north.

MNCTA president Ben Wolcyn confirmed that in MNCTA’s over 50 history, Guggisberg Tree Farm was the most southern host for the convention. He said southern Minnesota is typically known for growing crops like corn and soybeans. He said the land is great for growing, but Christmas trees too, but many farmers put more value in the traditional crops.

Wolcyn was excited to bring the convention to the New Ulm area.

“I always like to see other people’s little slice of heaven,” Wolcyn said. Everyone’s tree farm represented a paradise for them and he enjoy seeing the different interpretation and learn something new.

The convention includes several break-out seminars related to the Christmas Tree industry, including everything from garland making to watering trees with aerial drones.

Mark Hansen from Hansen Tree Farm assists with a spruce pot demonstration during the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) convention. This year the two-day convention is hosted by Guggisberg Tree Farm. Tony Guggisberg said the entire reason for the convention was to meet with growers who share a passion and learn from them.

Guggisberg hosted a seminar on Friday on how maximize profits using recycled tree materials. Using branches and other discarded material, he shows attendees how to create a spruce pot. Some of the materials he used included other plant materials, including dried up goldenrod, hydrangea and pine cones. He said these items could be spray-painted to give the pots extra color.

Guggisberg emphasized that these extra materials could be found anywhere in nature. They did not need to be purchased by special order. He recommended looking for pinecones and other plant material on nature walks.

During the demonstration, Mark Hansen of Hansen Tree Farm in Ramsey, MN demonstrated some of the arrangement styles done at his farm.

“That’s why we’re here to learn from each other,” Guggisberg said.

Hansen said he attends every Christmas Tree convention and his family tree farm has even hosted it before. He likes to visit with his fellow tree growers and learn about what is new in the industry.

A drone used for watering hovers above the Guggisberg Tree Farm as part of a demonstration during the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) convention Friday. The drone was flown by Bear Bouwman, of AeriAll Spray & Survey. This just one of several ag related seminars held at the tree farm.

Asked what he was most interested in learning at this year’s convention, Hansen said the Korean Fir tree was of interest. This variety of Christmas tree was becoming incredibly popular among people who purchase trees.

“People like the Korean Fir because it retains its needles and has two colors,” Hansen said. “The top of the branch is dark green and the bottom is silver.”

Guggisberg confirmed agreed the Korean Fir was gaining popularity. He showed a branch from a Korean Fir.

Guggisberg said in his 30 years of growing Christmas trees the biggest change was which trees were most popular. The trend was for scotch pines or Norwegian pines, but shifted to Balsam and Fraser fir. Now the Korean fir is the new sought after tree.

Guggisberg said the hardest part of running a tree farm was deciding how to plan. He said it takes between 8 and 10 years for a tree to mature before it is ready. The trees the Guggisberg family planted this last spring will not be ready for sale until Christmas of 2035.

Dozens of Minnesota Christmas Tree Association members gather for a demonstration from Tony Guggisberg during annual convention held at Guggisberg Tree Farm.

Each year, they plant around 1,200 trees. The farm has eight varieties of Christmas trees growing.

Guggisberg admitted it was a lot of work to get ready for the Christmas tree season every year, but it was worth it.

“Why do we do it?” Guggisberg asked. “It is for the families. Coming to these tree farms is an experience of a lifetime. The kids will remember their visit here.”

Wolcyn agreed that the Christmas tree industry was shifting into “ag entertainment.” He said families are not just going to tree farms to pick out a Christmas tree; they are going to have fun on the farm.

Many tree farms are starting to incorporate petting zoos and visits with Santa as part of the experience.

Dozens of Minnesota Christmas Tree Association members gather for a demonstration from Tony Guggisberg during annual convention held at Guggisberg Tree Farm.

In fact, one of Saturday’s seminars was about the pros and cons of adding additional seasonal entertainment to the farm.

Looking to the future of the Christmas tree industry, Guggisberg hoped the public continued seek out live trees for Christmas.

“We hope people will see the value in a live Christmas Tree,” he said. “It is good for the environment.”

He explained that growing Christmas trees on his farm had greatly benefited the local wildlife habitat. He said there are many bird species building homes in their Christmas trees.

Wolcyn agreed that spreading the word about the value of natural Christmas trees was a goal for the industry.

“Everyone attending this convention is on the same side,” Wolcyn said of the convention goers. “Our enemy is the artificial tree from China.”

The MNCTA convention will continue at Guggisberg Tree Farm on Saturday with several more conventions, including a keynote address from Dr. John Ball, a Professor of Forestry at South Dakota State University. Ball will speak on the challenges of growing trees in alkaline soils.

Tony Guggisberg, owner of Guggisberg Tree Farm holds a branch from a Korean Fir tree. Guggisberg and other said this variety of tree is becoming of the most popular varieties of Christmas tree.