Local farmer delivering governor’s Christmas tree

WELLSVILLE — It’s not every day you get to meet the governor.

That’s what Robin Dunn says of the trip she’ll make Friday to Cedar Crest Mansion in Topeka to deliver a Christmas tree to Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

“She’ll invite us in, and we’ll set up the tree,” the owner of Dunn’s Landing, 4553 Ohio Road, Wellsville, said. “You don’t get to shake hands and take pictures with the governor every day.”

The Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association each year selects a farm to provide the governor’s tree. This year’s tree will be provided by Bowen’s Christmas Tree Farm in Pittsburg, and it will be Dunn’s responsibility to meet the tree in Topeka and take it by horse-drawn wagon to the governor’s mansion.  

“The governor could get a fancy tree from anywhere, but she chooses to keep it local,” Dunn said.

In the past, local businesses like  Memory Lane Christmas Tree Farm in Rantoul have provided the governor’s tree.

Dunn is scheduled to deliver the tree at 11:30 a.m. Friday, but before then she has plenty of work to do.

“I have to get the security clearance first of all,” she said, laughing. “I have to clean the wagon, clean the harnesses, clean the horses, decorate the wagon.”

She said she’s looking forward to her trip to meet Sebelius.

“I consider it a privilege,” she said. “Not just anybody gets to deliver the governor’s Christmas tree.”

Herald staff writer Jenalea Myers can be e-mailed at jmyers@ottawaherald.com.