Dave and Mary Vander Velden Have Grown Trees in Oconto County for 30 Years, and Their 26-Foot Balsam Fir Is Headed to Wisconsin’s Capitol Rotunda

Dave and Mary Vander Velden have spent 30 years growing trees in Oconto County. This month, for the second year running, one of them is going to Madison. A 26-foot balsam fir cut in Gillett is headed for the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda, where it will stand as the state’s 2026 holiday tree.

“It’s a real honor to be chosen twice,” Dave Vander Velden told WBAY, which reported on Nov. 13 that the tree had been cut and bundled for the trip.

From a Gillett Tree Lot to the Rotunda

The Vander Veldens are the former owners of Whispering Pines Christmas Trees. The fir came down at 26 feet and will be trimmed to roughly 22 to 23 feet so it fits the rotunda, WBAY reported. It is set to be installed just before Thanksgiving, with help from the Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association and the state Department of Administration.

Dave Vander Velden told the station that donating the tree is a way to give something back to the people of Wisconsin who supported him through his career.

Sarah Glitto, executive director of the producers association, called the tradition a great way for the state to bring families and students together.

Back-to-Back Years for One Oconto County Couple

The couple also supplied last year’s Capitol tree. Gov. Tony Evers’ office said in a Dec. 4, 2025, release that the 2025 rotunda tree, a 30-foot balsam fir, came from Dave and Mary Vander Velden, retired owners of Whispering Pines Tree Farm in Oconto County, and that they also donated the tree at the governor’s Executive Residence.

Madison Commons reported that the 2025 fir also came from Gillett, a rural town about 40 miles north of Green Bay, and stood 35 to 45 feet before it was cut down to fit inside the Capitol.

Getting a tree that size into the building is a team effort. Last year, Henry Schienebeck and the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association harvested the Vander Veldens’ trees alongside the producers association and the Department of Administration, according to the governor’s office. The 2025 rotunda tree went on to be nominated for USA TODAY 10Best’s Best Public Holiday Lights Display.

Their trees have traveled even farther before. WBAY noted that the Vander Veldens provided a Christmas tree that went to then-first lady Michelle Obama at the White House in 2016. Neighboring Michigan’s state tree this year has a backstory of its own: a 60-foot spruce that outgrew an Iron Mountain family’s property.

‘The Year of the Neighbor’

This year’s tree carries the theme “The Year of the Neighbor,” chosen by Evers to honor Wisconsin residents whose kindness holds their communities together, FOX 11 reported. Evers picked it for his final year in office.

As in past years, the tree will be decorated with handmade ornaments from Wisconsin students. A state letter to schools asks for non-breakable ornaments about 4 to 6 inches across, in a color that stands out against the green, with a 10-inch loop of ribbon or string for hanging. Each one should carry the teacher’s name and grade, plus the school’s name and address.

Ornaments are due Nov. 20 and go to Emily Gorman at the Wisconsin Department of Administration, Division of Facilities and Transportation Services, 17 West Main Street, Suite 119, Madison, WI 53703.

When the Fir Lights Up

The Capitol Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony is set for noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2026, according to the state’s letter. Last year’s tree was themed “The Learning Tree” for the Year of the Kid, and its ornaments thanked teachers, custodians, bus drivers and others who support students, the governor’s office said.

Last year’s tree stayed on display in the rotunda through the end of the year, and the governor’s office listed Capitol visiting hours at the time as 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

For the Vander Veldens, the fir that grew in Gillett soil will spend the holidays under the Capitol dome, covered in ornaments made by kids from around the state.

This article was produced with AI assistance and edited for accuracy against the sources linked above.

Image: Corey Coyle – CC BY 3.0/Wikimedia Commons