OCONTO, Wis. — For more than 30 years, Dave and Mary Vander Velden have grown Whispering Pines Tree Farm from the ground up.
"This place has been our life for a long time," Mary said. "It was corn stuble. It was nothing."
"Cornfield and a dream," Dave said.
Today, the 200 acree farm has hundreds of thousands of trees. Their passion for this winter business is clear as a summer day.
"It's a lot of fun," Dave said. "It's a good, warm feeling to have a tree farm. It's a happy business."
What's harder to see, but just as much there, are 30 years of memories. The Vander Velden's have welcomed Governor Scott Walker, have donated a tree to Vice President Mike Pence, and visited the White House to donate a tree to First Lady Michelle Obama.
"When you did that, that was the best Christmas tree in the country," Dave said. "You really, it's like winning the Super Bowl, gold medal at the Olympics. It doesn't get any better in the tree industry."
Of course, not every customer is a famous politician. The ones here at home are pretty special too.
"They've all become our friends, part of the Whispering Pines family, that's what I refer to all the people that come and cut their tree," Mary said. "We see all the kids grow every year, and it's just been a magnificent experience. I'm so glad we had it."
This is the last year the Vander Velden's will run Whispering Pines. For them, it's time to move on.
"Just enjoy life," Dave said. "Sit back and kick my feet up a little bit."
They've found a family to take over and continue their tradition and way of life.
"It's been great, it's been a good life," Mary said.
