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Whispering Pines Tree Farm Makes People Happy with Hard Work, Good Soil

Published December 10, 2018

David Vander Velden and his wife, Mary, were living in Allouez when they started having issues with their roof. A neighbor volunteered to help David with repairs and one thing led to another.

“My neighbor owned a Christmas tree farm in Brussels,” Vander Velden said. “By the time the roof was finished, I owned it.”

The year was 1984, and it was the start of what would be a memorable journey from a questionable purchase to an award-winning tree farm that in 2016 supplied the White House Christmas tree.

In between were years of trial and error. Vander Velden learned quickly that Brussels was no place for a tree farm. The pH level in the soil was not suitable, and the tree quality was poor.

“I had a Christmas tree lot and was selling trees off of it, but I ended up buying trees from other farms," he said. "I studied those that were the best quality and looked at where they were grown. Then I searched for a place that had that soil quality.” 

The search brought him to Oconto in 1988, where he purchased 16 acres and started Whispering Pines Tree Farm (www.whisperingpinestreefarm.com). With help from his dad and a grower from Wausau, he started planting as he carefully looked at genetics and how he could develop the best trees. He and Mary continued to work full-time while building the business.

“At that time, Mary did everything with me, including running the tractor,” he said.

That continued until 2001 when the trees had matured and the business had grown to the level where it became their full-time occupation. In the process, they became masters of their trade and added land and buildings.

“By 1995, I realized that cut-your-own trees were becoming popular and decided that was a good direction. My dad and I built a log building and added horse and wagon rides. From there, it evolved to what it is today,” he said.

And what it is today is an experience that has people coming back year after year.  There is a gift shop, talking reindeer, an express train ride, food and snacks, a petting farm, and visits with Santa. But the most popular attraction is the one that has families picking up a hand saw and heading out to pick the perfect tree from the thousands of balsam fir, Fraser fir, Scotch pine, and white pine.

The land has been added and Vander Velden now has 200 acres, and instead of one John Deere, a fleet of equipment including balers, tractors, and trucks. In the process, he attributes the success to advise he received from his father-in-law.

"He told me, 'Don’t worry about making money, make people happy and you’ll make money.' So, I never worried about that. I have always tried to be the best and do whatever it takes.”

It has taken long hours; he hasn’t had a day off since September. But they are hours that fill him and Mary with joy and anticipation. The once-small farm has a staff that balloons to about 60 people in season. Most work because they love the farm, and although many businesses are having a hard time filling positions, that hasn’t been a problem.

“Many of these people have been here for years,” Vander Velden said. “They work here because they enjoy it. Everyone smiles and has fun for a few weeks.”

He says that it’s hard to think of a more fulfilling business, and it’s gratifying to see excited children and families making memories. As Whispering Pines makes memories for others, Vander Velden says his favorite memory, the culmination of years of hard work, was being named National Grand Champion in 2015. They also have been named Grand Champion at the state level four times.

“When we presented the Christmas tree to Michelle Obama and walked through the White House, I couldn’t imagine more of an honor. It is the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl of tree growing. We gave a tree to the nation,” he said.

Although not being eligible to provide another White House tree for four years, Whispering Pines will be able to enter again next year. Regardless of how that turns out, the Vander Veldens continue to prove that success comes from hard work, good soil, and a primary goal of making people happy.

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin. 

 
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Green Bay Press Gazette

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