PSCTA Fall Meeting Minutes

October 12, 2024

Red Rooster Ranch

Those in attendance:

Wilson Hill Tree Farm; Rich McDonald

Five Springs Tree Farm; Doug Kingsbury and his brother Dan

Double Four Tree Farm; Bob Moore

Red Rooster Ranch; Byron & Cindy Nelson

Good Boy Farms; Nicole Yumen

Ohop Ridge Christmas Tree Farm; Mike & Denise Roosendaal

Three Trees Farms; Mike Scott

Kirk Company; Stacy Peacock

President Bob Moore called the meeting to order.

History of Red Rooster Farm – After living and working in Ballard for 15 years, Byron and Cindy bought the property, which encompasses 8 acres. They started out planting 1,000 trees around the house after seeing Lochsloy Acres. He stopped in and talked to Mike Peters and inquired about Christmas tree farming. He planted more trees and opened 10 years ago.  They sold 17 trees their first year; and kept selling more each year. They are open 3 days, and the farm is staffed with family members. If a customer calls during the week and wants to cut a tree, they will let them in. His trees grow well, and he has relied on the advice and information gathered from the association.  They have about 7,000 trees in the ground, most Nobles.  They have some Nordman and will be planting more of them.  They have planted 400 Turkish plugs this fall and will plant bare root seedlings in the spring.  He sold about 600 trees for the three days they were open last year.

Discussed nurseries and where seedlings are available.  There is a nursery in Bow where Bob Kazminski buys his seedlings, which is likes their Nobles.  There is also Kintigh Mtn Home Ranch in Silverton, Oregon.

Minutes from the summer meeting were provided; shout out and thank you to Harvey Hawkins daughter-in-law who took the minutes.  Bob asked if anyone had any questions on the minutes.  A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as recorded.  Motion passed unanimously.

A copy of the treasurer’s report was provided.  Discussion followed.  A motion was made and to accept the treasurer’s report.  Motion passed unanimously.

Bob talked about his visit to Denmark for the World Christmas Tree summit, which was attended by 53 people.  He did state that if you have fireweed on your farm, it can cause rust in the trees.  He said that Denmark is where all the seed orchards are.  They are about 2 acres in size with about 200 trees.  Bob said the trees are pretty ugly; they stress the trees to help them create the cones for the seeds.  The trees are almost yellow because they are so full of cones.

Mike Scott brought up a concern regarding a new federal regulation for all Washington State businesses not licensed as a sole proprietor.  There were article in the Seattle Times and the Capital News.  Denise mentioned that her accountant made her aware that she needs to file by January 2025 or face a hefty fine.  It has something to do with money laundering through businesses.

The website to get more information is:  https://boiefiling.fincen.gov/boir/html.  Everyone needs to be aware and be prepared to get your paperwork in prior to January 2025.

The group talked about the election of officers.  Those currently holding an office have been in their positions for several years.  Bob as president, Rich as vice president, Sheila as treasurer and Denise as secretary.  While we are all glad to be in these positions, we think it’s time to get more farmers involved in this part of the association.  New blood is always good for the association and with the new members signed up, this would be a great opportunity to get involved.  So come January, all these positions are up for re-election.

Please think about this and consider volunteering.  We are all very busy in our lives, family, farms and work.  These positions do not require an inordinate amount of time to hold. This is a heads up for the annual meeting.

Discussion followed on what farms will be doing this year, whether it’s the same as last year or something new.  Nicole Humen from Good Boy Farms said they will have pre-cuts available, selling smore’s and have free cides for their customers.  They do not have a Santa and the customers seem to be OK with that.  They also have a food truck on site.  Their farm is just shy of 25 acres, and it is a family community and they plant about 2,000 seedlings a year.

Ohop Ridge Christmas tree farm is bringing back Tractorland for the little kids. They have fresh wreaths, a fire pit and a tractor ride for all families.

Double Four farm is opening for their pre-select season on November 2^nd, then will open the weekend before Thanksgiving for their selling season.  He still has the retail shop and has incorporated a bar code system from Square for everything – including all of his trees for sale.  He will also have a food truck on site, both for the pre-select days and the selling season.  The process is labor intensive to set up and tag, but the end result for the cashiers is excellent.  No guess work, a better/more accurate inventory count.  He has already bought his candy canes.

Five Springs Tree farm will open the day after Thanksgiving and the weekend after.  They will have 50 pre-cuts from Tillman available for their customers.

Three Trees will open the day after Thanksgiving.

Stacy from Kirk Company arrived with all the orders for those in attendance.

The meeting was adjourned for lunch.

The annual meeting will be held on the 25^th of January at the hall we’ve had it for the last few years.  Information will be forwarded after the first of the year (2025!).

We have scheduled our summer 2025 meeting already – put it on your calendar for Three Trees Farms in Maple Valley.  More information will be forthcoming next year.

Thank you, Byron and Cindy, for hosting this meeting.  They have an absolutely beautiful farm with the most beautiful setting.

Happy selling everyone!!