Media Advisory

For Immediate Release

November 10, 2005

Contact: Jen Puente (414) 248-0606 or Roxy Peelen (414) 839-0406 or

Cheryl Nicholson – WI Christmas Tree Producers Association (608) 742-8663

Alice in Dairyland to Cut Season's 1^st Official

Wisconsin Christmas Tree

Gena Cooper, 58^th Alice in Dairyland, will be in Ozaukee County on Tuesday, November 22^nd, for the ceremonial cutting of Wisconsin's first Christmas tree of the season. Ozaukee County is hosting the 2006 Alice in Dairyland Finals, and this is the kick-off event showcasing agriculture in the county.

The tree cutting ceremony will take place at 10:15 am at Noffke Tree Farms – 10341 N. Granville Road in Mequon. Noffke's Tree Farm is one of the more than 100 "Choose and Cut" tree farms located in Wisconsin. School Children from Trinity Lutheran School in Mequon will tour the tree farm at 9am and take place in the tree cutting ceremony. A reception will immediately follow the ceremony.

Wisconsin Christmas tree growers produce over 2.5 million Christmas trees annually that are sold not only in Wisconsin, but across the nation and the world. The Wisconsin Christmas tree industry has a $50 million economic impact in Wisconsin. Over 36,000 acres of Christmas trees are grown in Wisconsin on over 1,300 tree farms.