Children from Jefferson City's Apple Tree Academy Daycare helped ring in the holiday season Wednesday at the Missouri Capitol.
Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson were joined by a couple dozen caroling children in presenting the Capitol Christmas tree, a 12-foot eastern white pine now standing outside the Governor's Office.
The governor declared December Christmas Tree Month in the state and recognized the winners of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association's annual wreath and tree contests. He then asked the children to help him decorate the tree, hoisting a few up to do so, before they enjoyed tree-shaped sugar cookies.
The Apple Tree Academy children burst into song upon seeing the governor, singing "He has a Red, Red Coat."
Many of the children's parents were present for Wednesday's ceremony.
Valerie Schmitz was one of them. Her 5-year-old son, Brody, was among the children singing Christmas classics, including "Jingle Bells" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas."
Schmitz said her son had never done anything like it before.
"Because of COVID and stuff, they haven't really gotten to do a lot of this stuff, so it's been kind of fun," she said. "It's just fun to see him go out and do different stuff like this."
Brody didn't really understand who the governor was when his mom told him, she said.
"He was excited. He didn't know what he was doing, but he was excited," Schmitz said.
Each year, the Capitol Christmas tree comes from the winner of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association's annual tree contest. Last year, the Capitol tree was a 10-foot pitch loblolly pine.
This year's winners were Vern and Bee Spaunhorst, owners of Heritage Valley Tree Farm in Washington. The family farm, which has been in operation for more than 160 years, grew the tree during the past 10 years. The Spaunhorsts planted their first Christmas trees in 1983.
Vern said he and his wife were raising five children and settled on growing Christmas trees as a way to generate income and send them to college.
"Forty years have come and gone since we planted those first trees, and we're still planting trees today," Vern said. "We're going to put in a couple thousand more in the spring, and we hope to continue doing it in the future."
Chris Chinn, Missouri Department of Agriculture director, said the state's diverse agricultural industry was on display Wednesday.
"Not only does it look like Christmas in the Capitol, but it smells like Christmas in the Capitol," she said.
Chinn said the state's Christmas tree farmers help tell the story of Christmas by opening their homes and farms to people to make special memories. Often, she said, tree farmers sacrifice those memories because it's their busy season.
Charity Keith, of Ozark Valley Christmas Tree Farm in Southwest City, won the Missouri Christmas Tree Association's wreath contest.
Keith, a sixth-generation farmer, transitioned her family cattle farm to a Christmas tree farm about 17 years ago. She started selling trees about 11 years ago and said she likes what the farm provides families.
"They have a sense of tradition and a set of experiences that they know they can look forward to every year," Keith said. "It just gives a sense of stability, even when things are uncertain in the world."
Keith and the Spaunhorsts both praised the Missouri Christmas Tree Association for assisting them with joining the field.
The association's roster lists nearly 40 Christmas tree farms in Missouri.
Parson said Christmas has always been important to his family, both when he was growing up and with his own children and grandchildren. They tend to get involved with church Christmas functions, he said.
"Mom's favorite time of the year," he said. "She always enjoyed the Christmas time, so I just appreciate that we get to continue that tradition here in the Capitol."
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Bee and Vernon Spaunhorst speak after being presented with a proclamation from Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. The Spaunhorsts own Heritage Valley Tree Farm which produced the winner of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association’s annual contest. The Spaunhorsts said it is a big honor for them as their winning fir tree sits in front of the Governor's Office.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Gov. Mike Parson speaks to attendees of the Capitol Christmas Tree Dedication on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. During the event, Gov. Parson recognized the winners of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association’s annual wreath and tree contests. Children from Apple Tree Academy came to sing Christmas carols and help decorate the fir tree that won.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: First Lady Teresa Parson delivers high-fives to children from Apple Tree Academy on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. The children performed Christmas carols at the Capitol Christmas Tree Dedication Ceremony.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Lainey Boeckman, 4, and Brynley Forsythe, 4, sing Christmas carols during the Capitol Christmas Tree Dedication on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. At the event, Gov. Mike Parson recognized the winners of the Missouri Christmas Tree Association’s annual wreath and tree contests with a proclamation.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Children from Apple Tree Academy pick ornaments out of a basket to decorate the Missouri Christmas Tree Association winner that sits outside the Governor's Office. The tree is from Heritage Valley Tree Farm, owned by Vern and Bee Spaunhorst.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Children from Apple Tree Academy climb the stairs to Gov. Mike Parson's office on Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Missouri State Capitol. Children sang Christmas carols and helped decorate the Capitol Christmas tree.
Eileen Wisniowicz/News Tribune photo: Gov. Mike Parson lifts Paisley Bauman, 4, so she could place an ornament higher on the Christmas tree outside the Governor's Office on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022. Children from Apple Tree Academy sang during the Christmas Tree Dedication Ceremony.