People's Choice11

13%

1015%

95%

824%

711%

69%

53%

44%

34%

23%

19%

People’s Choice Results and Comments We have included the People’s Choice results and comments for all growers that participated in classes 1 – 11. This year we had all first-place winners for the green tree classes as the possible candidates for People’s Choice. As this is still a relatively new concept that we have implemented in just the last few years, we are constantly reviewing how to make more trees available for voting throughout the Fair while still making it easy, understandable, fair and efficient for our participating growers, Fair-goers and our staff. If you have any questions or comments regarding People’s Choice voting, please feel free to contact Kim Ustruck (kimustruck@comcast.net) or Danielle Ustruck (ustruckout13@gmail.com) and we would be happy to answer any questions and will consider all feedback regarding People’s Choice. Thank you!

With 11,234 total votes throughout the 12 days of the MN State Fair, here are the results:

#1: Balsam Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 1053 votes

#2: Any Other Species (Veitch Fir) from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 327 votes

#3: Norway Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 415 votes

#4: Siberian Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 473 votes

#5: Meyer Spruce from Turck’s Trees - 360 votes

#6: Scotch Pine from Wolcyn Tree Farms and Nursery - 960 votes

#7: Fraser Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 1256 votes

#8: White Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 2705 votes (PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNER)

#9: European Style (Siberian Fir) from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc. - 553 votes

#10: Korean Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees - 1664 votes

#11: Canaan Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc - 1468 votes

#1: Balsam Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc.

1053 votes

Because it’s classic

Love the classic Balsam but left to grow out a bit for a more wild look

Good volume

Winner!

Best for Christmas

It’s symmetrical and nice

Best balance/size

I like the shape

Because it’s fat

God’s beautiful creation

I liked #1 the best. Thank you.

Wow! What a beauty!

Because it is perfect

Good shape

Soft and grows fast

Smooth

Needle length, color, and shape

Beautiful symmetry, needle length and color

Best Christmas tree ever!

Smell!

Perfect Christmas tree

Traditional

I liked the fullness of it

Lots of room for ornaments

Beautiful

So pretty

Not 8. 8 is not a Christmas tree!

Shape and color

OMG – a perfect specimen! Yea!

Full and fat on the bottom - uniform

The perfect tree

The shape is perfect

Nice tree

The most perfect tree I’ve seen

I love a balsam with open spaces – like Charlie Brown tree, sort of, but a bit fuller, not so perfectly trimmed

It’s nice

Great scent. Nice, full tree with branches for ornament hanging

Awesome

Beautiful!

Perfect shape!

I like the shape and that the needles weren’t really stiff and pokey

Because it smelled good

Soft and full

Good smells

Perfect shape, color, and size

Reminded me of Christmas! Good color and shape!

Very full and straight

Lovely!

Always loved this kind of tree

It smells like my childhood Christmases

Reminds me of my Christmas tree

Symmetrical, gorgeous green, full, and wide

Is very full and not very prickly

Good for hanging ornaments

So symmetrical!

#2: Any Other Species (Veitch Fir) from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc.

327 votes

Nice tree

Smells so good!

It smelled the best

Childhood! My cabin was in Sandstone!

Best one is #2!

Beautiful!

Love the old-fashioned look

Excellent form

Oh La La!

It’s got a great top

Space for ornaments

Thank you

Smells like gin! Juniper!

It smells the best

Veitch fir! I never see these!

The best

Easy to show ornaments

So unique! Beautiful.

The best!

It is very symmetrical

So beautiful

Love that it changes from green to blue depending on light

Form, needle length made me think Christmas!

#3: Norway Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees

415 votes

It would look beautiful without ornaments, just a ton of twinkle lights

It looks fake

Because it is soft

Norway all the way!

It is so soft. And, I’m Norwegian!

Grew up with a Norway

So fluffy

Made my beer taste better

I like the fine needles

It’s beautiful and thick

Puffy and beautiful

Its got a fuzzy feel about it

Big, fluffy, good for ornaments

Good, red pine

Beautiful

Sense of quiet and relaxing

It’s super fluffy

Smells good

Love how fluffy

Grew up with the Norway Pine – wonderful memories

#4: Siberian Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees

473 votes

So soft and spicy!

So great

Very soft

Cute little pine

So soft

Soft needles

Soft, strong and best color

Soft needles, great aroma, beautiful shape

Soft and sturdy

So soft

Great for hanging ornaments

Super soft but strong enough for ornaments

Love the texture and hangable spaces

So soft!

Exceptional shape and it feels like SILK!

Love the shape and color

Medium needles – not weak, long but not sharp

New Siberian fir – so cool and different

Because its classic Christmas

Soft needles

Soft, good space between branches and good for ornament display

It’s a good one

So soft

Softest

He’s cute

Absolutely the softest tree

It feels so nice

It smells very nice and is soft

Needles are so soft

He is cute and symmetrical

Soft needles

Looks soft

I picked this one because there are lots of open spaces for ornaments to hang

I like it because it looks, feels, and smells like a Christmas tree

Soft, love the color

Great shape and smell!

Unusual and natural and good for tinsel

Sturdy, good blue color, excellent scent, beautiful growth, and spiders live in it.

It has the softest needles and smelled like Christmas

Really nice, green color

The scrappy underdog!

Love the color, softness of the needles while looking like a fir

#5: Meyer Spruce from Turck’s Trees

360 votes

Although this one jumped out and bit my finger, it would support my ornaments.

Can take the weight of my many ornaments

Beautiful and could decorate

Such a cute tree!

It’s short and floofy

Because it’s pretty

Feels like Christmas

It’s a beautiful tree

Branches strong to hold heavy ornaments

Strong to hold ornaments. Attacked my friend.

Very full, just enough imperfection for character

Great for ornaments

#6: Scotch Pine from Wolcyn Tree Farms and Nursery

960 votes

Grew up with a Scotch Pine at Christmas time! A classic!

The best! Can’t find anymore.

Perfect to decorate

Perfect blend of happiness

It’s Christmas

Good floofer!

Nice!

It’s cool

Soft and lush

Because we live in Cambridge – love Wolcyns!

Nice needle length – not too long, not too short

Great shape

Not fake looking! Fluffy yet pointy!

Perfect shape

Because it looks like a fluffy tree

Because of the needles

Looks like it’s from Ho the Grinch Stole Christmas

Because it is fat and tall

I love the texture and shape

Because it is tall and bushy

It’s so fluffy

The shape and needles

Full to center, thick branches, beautiful shape!

Love the Scotch Pine trees – so hard to find these days

It’s not pokey

#7: Fraser Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc

1256 votes

Looks old timey

Good shape, many strong branches for hanging ornaments

Nice shape and plenty of space to hang ornaments

Best shape/color with room for ornaments

It makes me happy

Branches are stronger for ornaments

Perfect for hanging ornaments and really full

Needles are soft

I love Frasers!

Space for ornaments

It’s very pretty

It looks nice

Perfect for hanging ornaments

Luxurious branches but would decorate well

Big Christmas vibes

Like the shape

I like the cute cones on it!

It’s perfect

Love the pinecones

Beautiful color

Frasers are the best

Great shape and color

Lots of room for ornaments

Love the pinecones and the “white” under the needles

Because of the blue color underneath the branch and the stiffness – I have heavy ornaments

It was just really nice looking

Perfect ornament tree

Nice color and traditional look

Great shape, nice for ornaments

Reminds me of Christmas when I was younger

It’s a dope tree

Looks like the Christmas tree of my youth

So many branches for oodles of ornaments!

Well proportioned, good tree for hanging bulbs and tinsel

Great smell

Room for ornaments, nice fragrance, pretty pinecones, looks healthy

Good for ornaments and longevity

It’s got lovely branches for ornaments

Nice conical form with spaces for ornaments

Strong branches

Lots of space to hang sparkling ornaments

Perfect shape, soft needles, blue-green vivid color, strong branches for lights/ornaments

Perfect shape and room for ornaments

Strong boughs, space for ornaments

The top is perfect

Fraser fir because they are full, yet have room for ornaments

Looks good. Good size.

I like the distinct pine and height

Love Fraser Fir, and the pinecones on it!

It looks nice

It speaks to me

It’s really puffy

Perfect Christmas tree

#7 is the best!

#8: White Pine from Jan’s Christmas Trees

2705 votes

Soft

Full, even, soft, tall, beautiful

It’s so soft, full and perfect

It’s fun to hug!

I want to marry #8

Hands down, Jan is killing it

It is a poofy

So soft! Soft fuzzy!

He’s so big and fluffy

Well-formed tree

He/she is very fluffy

So pretty, round and soft! Lovely tree!

Loved the long pine needles

Because it looks fluffy

Super fluffy!

Uniform and soft

She’s a soft beauty!

Fuzzy boy

#8 all the way

It’s so fluffy!

Because of it’s beautiful, soft needles

Smells good, soft enough to put your face in without being poked

“It’s so fluffy I wanna die!” – Despicable Me

Its soft touch. Beautiful.

Bushier = better

Fluff!!

So soft, so full.

Super fluffy and soft

My favorite Minnesota pine tree

Soft and fluffy!

Looks unique

Perfect shape

Full branches

I want to hug this tree

Nice, full, soft, and beautiful

It’s so fluffy

Very soft. Most beautiful tree.

Gorgeous

Softie

Because it’s fluffy

Furry like a dog

Big softie

Because it was interesting and different

Looks like my yard was rolled up and made into a tree

Beautiful/unique

Because it’s full and beautiful

Has a nice feel to it

Straight out of the forest – so pretty

It’s friendly

So pretty!

So lush

So shaggy!

Love the long needles (sentimental)

So fluffy

Teddy Bear tree! Give it a hug!

Shape!

Fluffy

Feels like a cat

So soft!

Looks so perfect and soft

Its shape is nice

It’s so soft

Dense structure and soft needles

The color is beautiful! So full it almost looks fake!

Full and friendly

Are you kidding me? BEST!

So soft and fuzzy

Fluffy bunny love!

Very full!

Because he’s a happy, fluffy boy

It’s fluffy

What a unique shape for a white pine!

It was very full and uniform around it

Looks soft!

It’s fluffy

It’s fluffy

It’s the best

Fluffy

Nice shape

So soft and fluffy

Full and soft

Beautiful texture, color and shape. Very soft.

Such a soft, fluffy beauty

Best tree to pet

No needle loss

Wow, absolutely beautiful

Looks like fur!

So fluffy

It’s fluffy

What a nice tree

Fluffy

It’s beautiful and huggable

Very, very fuzzy

So good you need to hug it

So soft

Fluffy like a cat

It’s so fluffy

Full and fluffy

It is so full and green in color

Amazingly full, soft and conical!

It is soft and huggable

Super soft, fluffy, and inviting!

B-e-a-utiful!

So pretty!

Fluffy

So soft

Was the softest, well done!

Super soft and luxe

Because it’s so thick and the needles are nice and soft

Thick, tall, soft

We love this one

Stunning

So soft and shapely

It’s very nice and fluffy

Smells like my childhood. So floofy and uniform!

It’s so full! A bear could be hiding in the middle and you’d never know!

Amazing tree. Great job!

It’s soft and has a great shape! Plus, it just looks cool!

I picked 8 because it is soft – although it may be more difficult to decorate with my decorations!

The happiest, fuzziest tree! Thanks for the hug, tree!

Because it looks full and very green

Beautiful

So fluffy

Because it’s fuzzy. P.S. I’m a kid

I want to hug it!

Because my sister knows what she’s talking about

#8 is majestic

He’s puffy

It feels like it would defend me from the monster under the bed, a la Sully from Monsters, Inc.

It’s cool

Lovely

He fuzzy

Perfect shape. Soft needles.

I just want to give it a big hug

Fluff

It’s fuzzy and cute

Feels so good

It’s a Christmas miracle

I like it because it is poofy

So soft! My new tree friend!

It’s so fluffy

Because it feels like petting a puppy

Soft tree

The fullness and shape

It’s so soft

It’s so fluffy

No need to decorate and so soft

So fluffy!

Soft!

Bold and different!

Symmetry, footprint, pleasing to the senses

So fluffy

It looks like the yellow mascot from Cricket Wireless

Love White Pines

So fluffy

Fluffy!

Beautiful and full. Looks happy!

Oh, fir sure!

#9: Siberian Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc.

553 votes

Because it looks more natural and the open shape is great for displaying large or hanging ornaments. Also, it smells amazing!

Great top, smell, and overall unique

It’s cute!

The best because there is space to hang ornaments

Just wonky enough

Soft needles, pretty

Because it is pretty

I like the natural shape

I like that it has room for ornaments – more open

Unique needles and uniform shape

Optimistic color and super natural look

I like a more natural tree for a Christmas tree

It has personality

I like the in and out of the branches

I love the Charlie Brown-ness of the tree

Perfect for my big ornaments

Love the European style

Most room for ornaments to hang

Color and different sizes of branches

Love natural; imperfections

Not so trimmed – more natural, smells good

Because it could hold all the ornaments

Beautiful texture and shape – you can hang ornaments in the open spaces

Potential for hanging ornaments

I pick 9 because it has character – not all of us can be perfect

Love this one – you can hang ornaments and they’ll swing!

Lovely character. A fine “crown”

She’s quirky – doesn’t follow the rules, but she’s still soft

Soft

Soft, bright color, “real” – no cutting/trimming

It looks like my idea of a Christmas tree

Great for collection of old ornaments and tinsel!

This tree is so stunning and perfect. It almost looks fake!

Room to hang stuff

It’s adorable

Because it is short like me

It’s beautiful

At first, I laughed at it, and then I laughed with it, and now I feel very close with it.

Smells SO nice!

Because it is irregular

Soft, smells good, beautiful

The best little guy

Love the color and shape – reminds me of the Christmas tree at Grandma’s house!

Adorable, endearing, wistful, beautiful

Looks good, smells great!

I like natural

#10: Korean Fir from Jan’s Christmas Trees

1664 votes

Nice color and texture

Great aroma!

Soft to touch and traditional Christmas tree

It is so soft, I wanna die!

Handsome and thick

So full and beautiful

Beautifully shaped – I like shorter needle trees

Nice height, very full, soft

Soft, short needles for decorations, nice shape

Love the full ‘A’ shape to the tree

Beautiful and green

Christmas look

Looks like a perfect Christmas tree

Shape and soft needles

It’s full and sturdy for hanging ornaments

Beautiful

It looks fake with how perfect it is

Nice and full, easy to decorate

Good shape, good needles

Full, rich, green color

Best shaping, smells great

It’s gorgeous

Smells good, perfectly shaped, and ample branches for ornaments

My eyes were drawn to it when I first walked in

Love the color, lots of branches for ornaments, soft to touch

Perfect tree for decorating – Beautiful

Beautiful color and will hold my ornaments

Full and would look great decorated or plain

It was nice and soft, and the needles couldn’t poke me

Smells good

The color is great!

Interesting variety – unusual

Beautiful!!!

Soft needles, sturdy tree

You’re amazing!

Perfect for hanging ornaments

Girthy, dense tree

Smells nice, very dense, she cute

Color, full but still good branches to hang ornaments

Nice shape, branches, not too dense

‘Cause it’s pretty

It’s a nice green and shiny, and fragrant

Smells like Christmas

Because of its fullness and color

Because it smells so good

Its got a nice shape and I’m partial to firs for scent

Best for ornaments

Beautiful

Nice shape and would present ornaments nicely

Beautiful and classic!

Beautiful and smells so good

Bright colored needles, nice shape

Shape and texture

Aroma! Amazing!

Because it’s pretty

For the fragrance, color and thick branches

Best shape, color and support

Soft and smelled amazing

Beautiful

Great for ornaments

Full and beautiful

It’s nubby

Smells the best

Nice and full and tall

Beautifully different

Everything I love about Christmas trees; little spaces for bulbs, delicious smell, and perfect for gazing up underneath

Great circumference

#11: Canaan Fir from Happy Land Tree Farms, Inc.

1468 votes

Perfection

Beautiful shape, full but still decoratable

Beautiful color

Very best

Beautiful and fragrant

It has my heart

Color, shape, and type of needles

Picture perfect

Nice shape/soft

I love it!

#11 is MY winner!

Beautiful and full from top to bottom

Tall and full

Beautifully full and beautifully shaped! Wonderful!

Beautiful!

Beautiful shape

Great!

The perfect Christmas tree shape

Floofy and perfect Christmas tree shape

#10 was a close second, but the color on this tree was a nicer, darker green

We love Happy Land!

Good shape. GREAT smell!

This is a winner

Most authentic in color and feel. Reminds me of picking out a Christmas tree

Unusual variety – great symmetry

Great shape

In my opinion, the perfect Christmas tree

The most beautiful!

Pleasant to the eye

Because it was the greenest and fullest

Tall, full, nice dark green

Perfect

The color, the texture, the spread of the needles. Nice looking tree.

Such dense perfection

Great shape, good smell. Actually, the smell is the best part

It’s so perfect

Because it wasn’t pruned and very nice shape

Thick, full, soft, smells good!

Oof-dah! Amazing!

Beauty and symmetry

So pretty and full. I miss December.

So soft and beautiful green

Color, softness, fullness, and symmetry

Beautiful

Great looking tree

Beautiful branches

Great for hiding things inside

Beautiful!

Just perfect

General Comments not Associated with a Vote:

Love the European style!

I love non-shaped trees! More natural

Please leave some trees gently sheared

Siberian Firs are so cool!

I like the un-sheared trees

#8 is not Christmas!

I came all the way from Seattle, WA (the “Evergreen State”) and they are ALL gorgeous!

Canaan fir trees are perfect! Want!

They are all so beautiful. Thank you for your hard work.

It’s about time they got it right! Not so full and tightly sheared! (re: Krueger’s 12’ European style tree)

Why are Norways no longer available?

Blue Spruce is my favorite for decorating

I like the open style of the European style trees because you can really display ornaments well on them

Please do more European style!

Great looking trees! (regarding European style)

Love this style (European) and cannot find anywhere – quit trimming trees, leave natural. Easier for hanging ornaments

The European style reminded me of my childhood in Germany

Great for ornaments (regarding the European style trees)

Love the open branches you can hang ornaments on. They have room to hang more.