It's a family business. Most of the Christmas tree farms in Iowa are family-owned, according to Alter. Christmas tree farmers all belong to the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association. The association formed in 1963 so growers could learn from each other's experience. Their experience ranges from years in the business and annual sales of trees, to those who haven't started their farm yet.
Most families own around five to eight acres of trees.
And the land is used for customers to find and harvest their own trees. The Millers have an area where customers can harvest their own trees, but they also have some trees that have already been harvested. You can buy our trees already harvested, or you can go harvest your own. The main field where you can harvest your own is called Deer Ridge. We give you a saw, and you go cut your own.