County to supply nation's Christmas tree (2024)

Editor’s note: On this patriotic day, this week’s Transylvanian of the Week feature looks at the local who will help coordinate a special national honor.

Don’t we all occasionally wish we had a job that brings universal joy, camaraderie among people and has a positive impact in a big, big way? Well, Lorie Stroup has just been handed that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This year she is stepping back from her regular duties as a biologist with the U.S. Forest Service at the Pisgah Ranger Station to take the helm as coordinator of the 2022 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. Transylvania County has been selected to provide the nation’s Christmas tree from Pisgah National Forest. Not only will she oversee every aspect of selection of the tree, harvesting, transporting and lighting of the tree that will sit outside the U.S. Capitol building, but her job is also to tell the story of our national forests and the tree’s journey from North Carolina to the steps of the nation’s capitol.

Tell me more about this amazing responsibility you’ve been entrusted with.

Stroup: I’m getting to coordinate this project for the National Forests in North Carolina, where I’ve worked for over 25 years. This effort is only possible thanks to our great partners and a great team of U.S. Forest Service employees, as well as the making of thousands of ornaments for the tree and companion trees. I’m also planning a tour that the tree will go on once harvested, reaching many communities across the state before she arrives on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

What other types of details are you overseeing?

Stroup: My job as coordinator is to lead a team (completely awesome team, by the way) in providing outreach and education, involving our state and local partners and businesses, coordinating the harvest of the tree, and a big “Harvest Celebration” at the WNC Ag Center on Nov. 5 with activities for kids, Santa, music and food. Once harvested, she (the tree who remains unnamed at this time) will make her journey from Murphy, N.C., to Manteo, N.C., with many stops in between. Then she will go to Joint Andrews Air Force Base where she will be unwrapped and prepared to be turned over to the U.S. Capitol architect.

The tree will then be decorated with thousands of ornaments handmade by folks from all over the great state of North Carolina.

Will you be making the journey with the tree every step of the way (all the way to D.C.)?

Stroup: Yes, I will be with our awesome team every step of the way.

Including being there for the actual lighting of the tree?

Stroup: Yes, the Speaker of the House will hold an official tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C. The date will be announced by the Speaker in the upcoming months. And, the tree lighting is always open to the public.

Have you received any advice from other cities who have provided the tree in previous years?

Stroup: Yes, the amazing team (and tree) from 2021 was from California’s Six Rivers National Forest. They told the story of “Sugar Bear” (their tree’s name) in such a way that thousands of people were engaged in its journey across the country. We’re also most fortunate for our partner, Choose Outdoors, who has been involved with transporting the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree for over 10 years.

Any funny or horror stories you can share about previous trees?

Stroup: I feel like it may be bad mojo for me to comment on this (laughing).

Can just anyone create a Christmas ornament for the tree?

Stroup: Yes, please visit www.uscapitolchristmastree.com/make-an-ornament/ for information on how to submit a handmade ornament to adorn the tree. Also, rather than mailing them in, you’re welcome to drop them off at the Ranger Station at 1600 Pisgah Highway, Pisgah Forest.

Has the 2022 tree been selected yet?

Stroup: Not yet.

Who makes the actual final selection of the tree?

Stroup: The architect of the Capitol will come down from D.C. in July and make his selection. We have a tree selection team that has been working really hard to identify candidate trees.

What exactly is he looking for?

Stroup: A 60-80’ tree, either Red spruce or Frasier fir. Most likely we will provide a Red spruce, as Frasier fir in the forest typically don’t reach 60-80 feet.

Why are the finalist (candidate) trees kept secret?

Stroup: For security reasons the location of the tree will remain undisclosed until just before harvest.

Does our tree have a name?

Stroup: No name just yet. I guess we’re waiting to see which one the architect picks. But if anyone has some great name ideas, I’m all ears!

How did Pisgah National Forest get selected to provide this year’s tree?

Stroup: It’s somewhat on a rotation of what region of the Forest Service gets picked. We hosted the tree in 1974, and again in 1998, so it was our time again.

Are we also providing an indoor tree for the Capitol?

Stroup: We do help coordinate and deliver many companion trees that are used in Capitol offices, the U.S. Forest Service building, the Department of Agriculture’s building and the Department of Interior.

Can we follow the journey of the tree online?

Stroup: Yes, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree has a Facebook page, Instagram and a website at www.uscapitolchristmastree.com.

By the way, how do you ensure that people don’t go into Pisgah National Forest and cut down trees (for Christmas trees, firewood etc.)?

Stroup: It’s illegal to harvest a Christmas tree from national forests. Spruce and fir forests in North Carolina have some special importance to rare animals and habitat, so we do not allow the harvest of Christmas trees on national forests. Any type of collection of forest products on the national forests requires a permit that can be acquired at the Ranger Station. Only certain forest products are allowed to be harvested and almost all of those products have certain restrictions.

What were you into when you were a kid?

Stroup: My dad took me fishing as a little girl on the Hiwassee River and lake. We spent many mornings leaving the house before daybreak and watched the sun come up on the water. We never fished for any particular species, just whatever was biting. Many of our family members would come down during the summer and we’d primitive camp on the banks of the lake in places only accessible by boat. It was an amazing experience that shaped my love for aquatic resources and their protection.

What are you most proud of in your life?

I’m very proud of my family. I was raised by two loving Christian parents (Joey and Linda Lewis) who gave me a solid foundation for raising my own family. My husband serves this community through his job (N.C. state trooper) and volunteer work and we have two awesome daughters. We feel very blessed to be their parents. My father-in-law and mother-in-law, Donald and Tissie Stroup (natives of Transylvania County), welcomed me into this community over 20 years ago and have been so supportive of our family, as well as taught me the rich history of both of their families in Transylvania County.

Are you involved in any volunteer work?

Stroup: My husband and I have coached softball for years through Transylvania Little League and through a travel organization that we developed. It’s been rewarding at times and also very challenging but it helped us develop relationships with many youth and their families that we feel will last a lifetime. There’s something special about a young person calling out “Coach!” and running to you for a hug.

Ann Sharpsteen is a local Brevard realtor with Sterling Real Estate Partners and founder of the “I Love Brevard” blog. She can be reached at (828) 606-2141 and online at www.ILoveBrevardblog.com.

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