Family Trees: Where tradition is grown

As snow settles across Central New York, families begin a ritual that officially marks the start of the holiday season: the search for the perfect Christmas tree.

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, people of all ages bundle up and head into tree-lined fields, saws in hand, sharing laughter and holiday memories.

At small, family-run tree farms in the Syracuse area, that tradition is the result of 11 rigorous months of preparation. Farmers spend the year planting, trimming and caring for trees, all so families can spend a few hours enjoying the property each winter.

“The rest of the year may have its challenges for people,” said Bill Edwards of Goodman’s Christmas Tree Farm in Phoenix. “But when they step foot on this farm, they’re happy.”

Edwards’ farm is one of several family operations comprised of multiple generations working together to create a welcoming experience for the community. The work, farmers said, is as much about connection as it is about agriculture.

“We’ve been here for 33 years, started planting trees the year that my dad bought this property,” said Jimmy Page of Page’s Christmas Tree Farm in Manlius. “It’s really cool to see the different generations come back to the farm and carry that tradition.”

Farmers watch their own families grow alongside their neighbors. Children who once rode in wagons return years later with children of their own.

Those moments carry added meaning amid the challenges of farming. The work is entirely weather-dependent, and Central New York farmers must contend with droughts, flooding and heavy snowstorms. Still, owners say the effort is worth it.

“Sharing that experience and giving people memories is something that people come back for year after year,” said Julie Liebmann of Rocking Horse Farm in Jamesville. “That’s why we do this.”