Silverculturist and WWII veteran, John Cooper, had a vision to create an idyllic Christmas tree farm where families from around West Virginia and the Ohio Valley could come each year to find that perfect Christmas tree.
Silverculturist and WWII veteran, John Cooper, had a vision to create an idyllic Christmas tree farm where families from around West Virginia and the Ohio Valley could come each year to find that perfect Christmas tree. His dream started in 1971 when he purchased a scenic lot in Evans, WV. After preparing the land, he planted his first trees in 1973. The rewards of his dream came to fruition in 1981 when the first crop of trees was sold. More than 25 years later, the legacy he created has taken a leap forward with the help of new ownership and the information superhighway.
At the end of WWII, it is possible that John Cooper was the first man to receive communication from Radio Japan that the Order of the Rising Sun unconditionally surrendered to the United States and its Allied forces. The Showa Emperor of Japan had recorded a message in which he personally accepted the Allied surrender terms. John was taking a break in the radio room of the Battleship New Jersey when he heard the signal. He copied the transmission and relayed it to the rest of the fleet. After the war, John Cooper had the privilege to meet General of the Army Douglas MacCarther, at Supreme Allied headquarters in Tokyo next to the emperor’s palace.
Today, John Cooper is considered by the United States Department of Agriculture as one of West Virginia’s finest Silverculturists. John was the President of the West Virginia Christmas Tree Association and a representative to the National Christmas Tree Association. He was invited to the White House during the Jimmy Carter administration to present a Christmas tree to the First Lady on his state’s behalf.
Well past the typical retirement age, John’s passion for his farm did not dim, but his physical ability to work the trees diminished. Therefore, in early 2006 he began a quest to find the perfect family to take over the business. He refused offers to sell to anyone that might not continue his dream. By the end of the year he met Washington, DC entrepreneurs, Luke & Jenna Wilbur. He had found the ideal fit. The energetic couple owned, FreshChristmasTree.com, a successful online company that offers customers from around the country the ability to receive a fresh cut Christmas tree straight to their doorstep. While farm formally changed hands in June 2007, John Cooper has stayed on as a consultant, passing along his expertise on crops and land management. The Wilbur’s have expanded Santa’s Forest by combining their successful mail order business with a traditional cut-your-own tree farm.
Christmas trees from local retailers are cut as early as October, while Christmas trees available through www.FreshChristmasTree.com arrive just days being cut, guaranteeing they will remain healthy well past December 25th. A wide variety of trees are available including: Scotch Pine, Balsam Fir, Canaan Valley Fir, Colorado Spruce, Fraser Fir, and White Pine. Wreaths and Garland are also available.
John Cooper’s dream of families gathering around a tree from Santa’s Forest lives on through the Wilbur’s and www.FreshChristmasTree.com. The Wilbur’s are very proud to carry on his legacy by providing a quality product to families near and far.
Santa’s Forest is a USDA registered farm and a member of the National Christmas Tree Association. We follow sustainable growing guidelines that protect our environment.
With: www.mediasyndicate.com
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