One of the best known farms in Macon county is relatively new, compared to many corn and soybean operations. Thousands of visitors every year flock to Four E’s Tree Farm, and pick out their Christmas tree and other decorations. Stu Ellis has our harvest heritage report on the family operation on the west side of Mt. Zion.
Stu Ellis
Marge Evans and her late husband Frank bought a few acres in 1959 to build a house and soon had a Christmas tree farm to manage…
Marge Evans
I think it was about ’65 we decided to plant trees, for erosion first, we noticed some areas of erosion, and then it seemed, why not plant Christmas trees. So we actually got hold of the people in the Illinois Christmas tree growers and got some information from them; and thought this might be a good project for the boys to do. We had the four sons, and Frank was very foresighted, and he thought if the four sons worked on the tree farm they could earn their money to put themselves through college.
Stu Ellis
Ron Evans, the senior manager for the tree farm said he learned from his father..
Ron Evans
A lot of hard work and it takes a lot of dedication to do it. They don’t grow themselves. We trim every tree every year, and we’ve got about 125 thousand trees that we trim every year now. Its not nearly as profitable as it was a few years ago and we are having a few issues with insects and funguses and things like that. But its fun to have customers come out and enjoy our trees. That’s the real rewarding part to me. I am hoping that one of my sons will take it over.
Stu Ellis
Ron Evans says local help keeps the operation going year round—providing pine trees for residential landscaping
Ron Evans
That has helped us sustain the business
Marge Evans
He has great big diggers that can lift up a large tree.
Ron Evans
That has been a portion of the business that has actually helped us survive. If we just had to rely on Christmas trees we probably couldn’t do it.
Stu Ellis
That’s our harvest heritage report. I’m Stu Ellis for WCIA3 your local news leader.
