Of all the eligible trees to make their way to the State Capitol in Pierre for the holiday season, one from Baltic was selected.

According to a press release, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s Resource Conservation and Forestry Division has chosen a 29-foot tall Colorado blue spruce from Baltic to serve as the featured tree in the South Dakota State Capitol Christmas tree display.

“We’ve been looking for trees throughout the year,” says McKenzi Kohlnhofer, urban forestry coordinator for SDDA. “We’ve had multiple people contact us saying they had a tree they’d like to donate for the Capitol Christmas Tree. This one was 2,700 pounds.

“We’re looking for a good, all-around tree that’s equal on all sides and is strong enough to hold all the ornaments that we’re going to put on. (Also) height is always a good thing.”

Graciously donating the tree was Willette Reichert. The South Dakota State Capitol Christmas tree display opens November 25. It is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day through December 26.

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