Talking TREES — Buddy Deal discusses some of the trees on Smokey Hollar Tree Farm with White House Chief Usher Gary Walters and Grounds Foreman Mike Lawn. Shown to the left of the photo are Earl and Betsy Deal, while Meg Deal is on the far right of the picture.

White House trees selected at Deal farm in Laurel Springs

For the first time in more than 30 years, Alleghany County will have a place in Capitol history, having a tree placed in the Blue Room of the White House. Alleghany County had not one, but three feathers placed in its cap last Thursday morning when White House officials selected trees from Smokey Holler Tree Farm in Laurel Springs.

White House Chief Usher Gary Walters and Grounds Foreman Mike Lawn visited the farm, owned by Earl, Betsy and Buddy Deal, and selected a tree for the Blue Room in the White House, a tree to be placed in the Oval Office, as well as a tree to be placed in the private residence of the Bush family.

The Deal family earned the right to send an Alleghany tree to the Blue Room of the White House after winning the National Grand Championship title at the National Christmas Tree Association’s Biennial Convention in Lake Harmony, Penn. in 2004.

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