Enjoy the season with a family outing to an area tree farm

Family holiday memories are made at Meier Horse Shoe Pines, a Jackson tree farm on County Road 330, off Route PP.

Teresa Meier believes the fun is in seeing the children who came with their parents come back with their own children. "One family uses their own hatchet to cut their tree for about six years now. They leave it here from year to year."

For the Steffens of Jackson, who've been coming for at least a decade, the roots go deep. "We used to live on a tree farm," said Carol Steffens. Friday was probably one of the best times the family had at the farm, she said. By comparison, Gary Steffens recalled the worst trek to the tree farm was when his wife was six months pregnant with their son, Adam. "It was windy and the snow was blowing," he said.

Getting together to pick out a tree is a priority even though their daughter, Lisa, and Adam live away from their parents. It took them 30 minutes to decide and, with everyone having different requirements, it had to be a compromise. "We didn't have to spend that much time because we picked the first one anyway," Adam said.

Two-year-old Mason Grindstaff of Jackson took the opportunity to visit with Santa Claus Saturday when he visited the Meier tree farm with his parents and 8-month-old sister Summer. His parents, Dana and Jeff Grindstaff, enjoy all the farm's offerings.

"We ride the wagon, tag our tree, see Santa and visit with the horses," said Dana Grindstaff.

Stephen and Teresa Meier, in their 17th year of selling Christmas trees, employ 15 extra hands at this time of year to make wreaths, run the shop, give wagon rides and prepare and cut trees for customers.

The two teams of Belgian horses, Bob and Rudi and Duke and Bill, are friendly and hardworking as they pull makeshift customer transports. "We used to use flatbeds but found they were difficult for the elderly to get up and down from. I built one with sides that was easier for everyone, and now we have four," Stephen Meier said.

Of the 14,000 trees at the farm, about 1,150 are for sale. Average-height trees stand beside bare sprouts.

This year is the Meiers are donating to Trees for Troops, a project of the National Christmas Tree Growers Association. Their local FedEx dealer will pick the trees up Thursday for distribution to service personnel at Army, Navy and Air Force bases and and those stationed in Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq.

But Meier tree farm is not the only place to cut down a fresh tree. River Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, 7634 Route N, Commerce, Mo.,has been in business for 20 years and offers its own specialties. "We focus on real tall trees, usually about 15 feet. We have several hundred," said owner Joannie Smith. The tree farm offers Frazier firs, white pine and balsam fir, all selected for lasting freshness and pretty appearance.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133