Kruse Tree Farm brings all the trimmings of Christmas

GRUNDY CENTER – For many people, the Christmas season doesn’t begin until radio stations start playing holiday music. For others, it begins when retailers unveil their newest stock of holiday merchandise. Still more, some people can’t call it Christmas until there’s snow. But for people like Loren Kruse, the Christmas season is the focus all year long.
Since 1981, Loren Kruse and his family have operated the Kruse Christmas Tree Farm located just outside of Grundy Center. The 2,000-tree plantation offers a variety of pine and fir trees, as well as wreaths, mantelpieces and more.
Unlike a regular business, Kruse’s tree farm is only open five days each year. But despite their limited hours of operation, Kruse says running a Christmas tree farm is a year-round production.
“You think about Christmas every day of the year when you’re a Christmas tree farmer,” he said.
It begins in April, when Kruse plants his new seedlings. After that, there’s weed control, pest inspection and control, tree shaping, trimming and more.
“It’s most interesting in July when it’s ninety degrees and ninety percent humidity and you’re working with the trees, knowing that there’s some family that’ll think this tree is awesome, even though it’s far from their mind,” he said.
For the full story, see the December 1 edition of The Grundy Register.