It's beginning to look like Christmas
Anderson Co. tree growers claim 'champion' title

By JULIET BRISKIN | Staff writer

Rick Sparks, co-owner of MR and MS Trees, shows an example of one of the Virginia Pines grown on their farm near Palestine. The tree farmers won First Place in the Virginia Pine category and 2003 Grand Champion at the Texas State Christmas Growers Association's annual meeting. -- Staff photo by Briskin

December 4, 2003 -- The use of a Christmas tree is thought to have begun early in the 17th century in France and from there spread throughout Germany and into northern Europe. In 1841 Albert, the German-born husband of Queen Victoria, introduced the Christmas tree custom to Great Britain and had the first decorated Christmas tree placed in Windsor Castle. The tradition was then brought to the New World by Hessian soldiers and has since become a staple of celebration during the holiday season.

Today, families around the world gather together each season to decorate their Christmas trees, but before they can decorate a tree they must first acquire one. An increasingly popular way of getting the perfect tree is to visit a Christmas tree farm and have one cut fresh.

One such farm is MR and MS Trees just outside Palestine in Anderson County. In September 2003 the four business partners and family members - Michaelene and Rick Sparks, and Mike and Sandra Pell - attended the annual Texas State Christmas Tree Growers Association (TSCTGA) conference in Fort Worth where they won first place in the Virginia Pine category and captured the title of 2003 Texas Overall Grand Champion.

MR and MS Trees started growing trees in 1998 and opened to the public for business in 2002. According to Rick Sparks, the four began their venture into the tree business as a way to utilize some land that had been in the family for 20 years, and as something to do in "retirement."

"We started doing our research and most of the literature on Christmas tree growing said that it was not all that time consuming," explained Sparks. "We thought, what a great thing to do after retiring from the military and we'll have time to do all the other things we've been wanting to do. Well, there's more work to it than meets the eye! To grow a grand champion tree take a lot of time and effort."

Members of the Fort Worth Master Gardeners Club served as the judges at the TSCTGA conference and considered the structure of the tree, the fullness of the needles, the texture, the overall color of the tree, the size of the trunk and the girth of the tree when choosing the champion.

"When we won the Virginia pine category we were just ecstatic," said Sparks. "Then, when they announced that we were the overall grand champions, we were just floored. There are growers that have been doing this for 20 years and never won a competition, and we've only been in business for two years!"

Visiting a tree farm can be a daunting experience for a newcomer, but Sparks explained that it really does not have to be. "When guests arrive here they are guided to our hay wagon that will take them out into the field," he said. "Once in the field it is just a matter of finding the tree that they want and cutting it down."

The farm has ag students from the local high school out in the field to help with the cutting of the trees, but customers are welcome to cut their tree themselves. Once the tree is down it is loaded on the hay wagon and taken back to the shop where staff will measure the tree, shake the loose needles off and the bale it for transport.

MR and MS Trees opens for business to the public on the day after Thanksgiving with more than just trees for their guests to enjoy. "Santa Claus will be here each weekend, we are going to have hot chocolate and wassail, fire pits to warm yourself by, sticks for roasting marshmallows if folks want to bring them, a frontiersman cooking various foods for sampling, and more," explained Sparks. "The weekend after Thanksgiving the local Humane Society will be out here with some animals for adoption. We have tried really hard to create a very festive and family-oriented environment for our customers."

The farm is located about four miles northwest of Palestine just off FM 645, is completely handicap accessible, has a holiday gift shop and welcomes tour groups. For more information on the farm call 903-538-0160 or visit www.mrandmstrees.com.

For other Christmas tree farms in the state, visit the Texas Christmas Tree Growers website at www.texaschristmastrees.com.