Thursday, Nov. 5, a crew harvests the spruce in Iron Mountain. Saturday, Nov. 7, it stands on the Capitol lawn in Lansing. Friday, Nov. 20, it is lit. The 60-foot tree belongs to Larry Riccio’s family, and the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget announced it as the State of Michigan’s 40th Christmas tree.
Riccio told Upper Michigan’s Source that it is “pretty cool” to be able to say the family’s tree is the state Christmas tree. The family said it is excited and honored to donate this year’s tree.
A Spruce Already Large in 1986
The Riccio family bought their Iron Mountain house in 1986, when the spruce was already large. In the years since, the state says, it has outgrown the property.
The department chose the spruce, according to the station’s report of the Tuesday press release. The announcement does not give the tree’s age or explain how the department picked this spruce over others, so the 60-foot height and the 1986 purchase are the main details on record about where it came from.
Thursday in Iron Mountain, Saturday in Lansing
The Michigan Association of Timbermen, the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association and the department’s own Christmas tree crew handle the transport. The harvest is set for Thursday, Nov. 5, and the tree is due in downtown Lansing on Saturday, Nov. 7…