American Legion members help pack 250 Christmas trees at Stokoe Farms for the Trees for Troops program. Photo provided by Stokoe Farms
BY JENNIFER CROWLEY
On December 1st, Stokoe Farms, a Scottsville farming institution for over 200 years now, with some help from National Guard and Chili American Legion members, gathered and packed 250 Christmas trees for distribution to service personnel and their families through the Trees for Troops program.
Since 2005, over 200,000 free, farm-grown Christmas trees have been provided to troops and military families in the United States and overseas through Trees for Troops. These trees are selflessly donated by American farm families with support from the public. FedEx delivers these trees to more than 60 military bases and to date has logged more than 700,000 ground miles for the program.
Stokoe Farms has been an active participant in Trees for Troops since 2009. This year, Stokoe’s trees are being delivered to soldiers and their loved ones all over the world including families living right here in western New York. For personnel actively serving in combat zones, the smell of an aromatic evergreen tree can help bring feelings of comfort and joy during the difficult time of separation during the holidays.
Stokoe Farms began in 1812 on 100 acres of land on Bowerman Road. Today Stokoe encompasses 3,500 acres across the towns of Wheatland, Caledonia, Avon and Rush. The farm has sold out of its “u-cut” trees for the season but is open weekends through December 16th for the purchase of pre-cut trees, wreaths and country gifts. Anyone wishing to support the Trees for Troops program with a monetary donation may do so at the gift shop or online at www.stokoefarms.com.
