As Oklahomans shift from fall festivities to the Christmas season, associate farm reporter Carli Davenport caught up with Micaela Halverson, agritourism coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, to talk about the state’s growing interest in real Christmas trees. Halverson said families across Oklahoma still love the tradition of visiting a tree farm, and the state now has 19 farms registered in the Oklahoma Agritourism program.
Halverson described the experience these farms offer, explaining that they are “growing real live Christmas trees for you, the public, to come in and cut down your own and create those family traditions and Christmas holiday memories.” She noted that beyond the tree-cutting itself, families can enjoy gift shops, ornaments, hot chocolate, apple cider, and even s’mores. “You’re not just cutting down your tree,” she said. “You’re making memories and getting to explore.”
Halverson said the appeal of real Christmas trees goes far beyond décor — it’s about tradition and supporting the people who grow them. She admitted she once used artificial trees but proudly shared, “I love being a real Christmas tree person now.” She emphasized that trees take “five to seven years” to grow, calling it “a labor of love for these Christmas tree farmers and producers.” Buying a tree locally, she noted, directly supports small businesses and family farms across the state. Her own family has embraced the tradition: “My husband and I started a few years ago going down to cut our tree… and it’s been something really fun and really magical,” she said, adding that the experience has become part of their holiday memories.
Halverson also discussed the challenges of growing Christmas trees in a state not known for an Alpine climate. She explained that Oklahoma relies heavily on one variety, saying the state has developed “the Oklahoma improved Virginia pines… specifically for Oklahoma soil.” Through a partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture and the Oklahoma Christmas Tree Association, most farmers can purchase the seedlings they need. She noted she has “seen firsthand seedlings that have come in from other states… that don’t do well here,” making this local collaboration essential.
For families looking to visit a farm this season, Halverson encouraged Oklahomans to explore the state’s agritourism resources. “Visit our website,” she said, and the Christmas tree activity page that lists all 19 farms. She also encouraged families to follow Oklahoma Agritourism on Facebook and Instagram, where they “are constantly sharing different farms’ posts and what’s going on with them.”
