The Chosen One: Hartland Tree Heads to Vermont Statehouse Lawn for Christmas

Larry Fortier of Hartland,Vt., takes photos while a crew cuts down a balsam fir tree in his front yard in Hartland,Vt.,. on Wednesday, Nov.28,2018. He and his wife Pat donated the tree to be displayed in front of the state capitol building in Montpelier. Their son Kevin planted the tree about 30 years ago when he started studying landscape design in college. A lighting ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 4:30 p.m.(Valley News - Rick Russell) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Rick Russell

Christian Perkins, of White River Junction,Vt., at left, takes photos of a balsam fir tree being donated by Larry and Pat Fortier of Hartland,Vt., in Hartland,Vt.,. on Wednesday, Nov.28,2018. Perkins works for Chippers Inc., a tree service that has been helping care for the tree. The tree will become the official state Christmas tree displayed at the capitol in Montpelier, where a lighting ceremony is set for Friday at 4:30 p.m. The tree was planted by the Fortier's son Kevin about 30 years ago when he started studying landscape design in college.(Valley News - Rick Russell) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

State of Vermont employee Stephanie Minor of East Montpelier,Vt., climbs out of a balsam fir tree she was helping to strap onto a flatbed truck trailer being loaded in Hartland,Vt.,. on Wednesday, Nov.28,2018.The tree is being donated by Larry and Pat Fortier of Hartland,Vt., to be used as the official state Christmas tree in Montpelier. It was planted about 30 years ago by their son Kevin when he started studying landscape design in college.(Valley News - Rick Russell) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Rick Russell