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Ohio Christmas tree growers send holiday cheer to troops stationed overseas

Ohio-grown Christmas trees are making their way to military members serving overseas.

Brian Baldridge, director of Ohio’s Department of Agriculture, says Operation Evergreen has donated 50 trees to troops stationed in Kuwait. 

“We wrapped up the Christmas trees, boxed up ornaments and notes from the FFA kids,” he says. “We hope to lift up the Christmas season for those men and women that are serving and are going to be away from their families this holiday season.”

He tells Brownfield growers from across the state make donations each year.

“We produce over 190,000 Christmas trees,” he says. “That puts us 9^th across the country. We’re looking to grow this program and receive more funding in the future to ship more trees overseas.”

Now in its 30th year, Operation Evergreen and the Ohio Christmas Tree Association have delivered more than 5,000 trees since 1995.

AUDIO: Brian Baldridge, Ohio Department of Agriculture