Shoppers looking for a fresh-cut Christmas tree this season can support local agricultural students thanks to a new partnership between local Future Farmers of America (FFA) branches and Ace Hardware in Gettysburg. Students from several area FFA chapters are spending Saturday mornings at the store assisting customers and raising money for their programs.
The collaboration kicked off today when students from the Mason-Dixon FFA in Fairfield set up outside the store’s new 1,700-square-foot greenhouse, where all Christmas tree sales are taking place. Chapters from Gettysburg and New Oxford will take over the next two Saturdays. Each group receives proceeds directly from tree sales made during the hours they are on site.
Although students are only present on Saturday mornings, fresh trees are available during all regular business hours. When students are not present, Ace Hardware staff handles sales, and a portion of the proceeds still goes toward supporting the participating FFA programs. “It’s the first year we’re doing this, so we’re keeping it simple,” said Kim Mayers, who manages the program for Ace Hardware. “We’ll track how many trees sell each week so the students benefit fairly.”
In addition to trees, the greenhouse features a selection of holiday plants, including amaryllis, Christmas cactus, and poinsettias, giving shoppers an array of festive options to brighten their homes this season.
All trees come from Showers Tree Farm, a longtime Adams County grower known for Canadian firs and other varieties. The trees were cut just last week and are priced at $80 regardless of size. Most selections range between six and eight feet tall. “They look really nice,” Mayers said, noting that many families still prefer the fragrance of a real tree despite the growing popularity of artificial ones.
Early turnout was modest—only five trees were sold during the first morning—but Mayers expects sales to increase as the season progresses and more residents learn about the fundraiser. “It’s still a little early for some people,” she said. “But we’ll have new trees delivered every week.”
Mayers credited Jen Fleener, administrator for the Mason-Dixon FFA, with helping launch the partnership. “We both thought it was a great idea,” she said. “It supports the students, and people get a fresh tree. It’s a win-win.”
Mayers added that Ace Hardware plans a grand opening for the greenhouse in the spring, when it will be fully stocked with gardening supplies, tools, and seasonal plants.
Photo credit: Jen Fleener.
