When Mike Horning and his sons Ryan, 23, and Jamison, 18, arrived from Lake Zurich at the 130-acre Richardson Christmas Tree Farm in Spring Grove, they learned all the Fraser fir and Canaan fir trees were sold out.
But having to choose 4-foot trees didn’t hinder the joy of cutting down a real Christmas tree. “Cutting it down is the best part,” Horning said.
The Hornings are no different from a new generation beginning to start families of their own. Part of the 25 million to 30 million people who buy Christmas trees each year increasingly include the millennial generation.
Millennials are seeking out real Christmas trees, driving an increasing demand for real trees, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. While some of their baby boomer parents turned to fake trees as they aged, millennials tend to want “authentic, natural and meaningful” things, according to the association. That includes buying a real Christmas tree, and having the experience of selecting it personally.
“Real trees are more popular than ever,” said George Richardson, 67, co-owner of the farm. “It’s been really the first year you’ve seen this kind of millennial generation driving the business.”
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