Family Marks 55 Years In Christmas Tree Business

A Kansas family is celebrating 55 years in the Christmas tree business.

The scent of fresh-cut trees, swags and wreaths hangs in the air at the Delp Christmas Tree Farm. Four generations of families have come to select Christmas trees at the St. John business.

Cecil and Ruby Delp started the farm in 1959 and were founding members of the Kansas State Christmas Tree Growers Association. The idea to plant trees came to Cecil Delp after he noticed how well Ponderosa pine did in Stafford County shelterbelts.

Delp’s son, Cecil, said his father loved trees. Cecil and Ruby both died in 1997 after 65 years of marriage.

Today, the farm has 20 acres and 13,000 trees in seven varieties.


Associated Press information from: The Wichita Eagle