RICHTON, Miss.—For many Perry County families, choosing a Christmas tree has become more than a holiday errand. It’s a reason to gather, bring children outdoors and reconnect with a rural way of life that has grown harder to access in recent years.
After Mississippi endured its worst drought in 50 years during 2023 and 2024, improved weather has given local growers a more stable season—and families a renewed opportunity to visit farms that depend on community support to survive.
At 18 Acres Farm outside Richton, second-year owners Hope and Calvin Cooley said the steadier conditions have helped trees grow and allowed more families to return this year. The farm has already exceeded projected sales, driven largely by repeat visitors and school groups from Perry County.
“One of our goals with creating this farm is to offer a place where memories can be made into traditions,” Hope Cooley said. “Families visit our farm for many reasons—photography, field trips or a Christmas tree.”
Learning Outside the Classroom
For local students, those visits often double as hands-on lessons rarely available in a traditional classroom. Elementary school groups from Perry County visit the farm throughout the year, learning about agriculture, conservation and animal care.
The Cooleys invite first graders to plant their own trees, then welcome them back years later to see how those trees have grown.
“We do that program with the elementary kids,” Hope said. “The first graders in Perry County are invited to come out and plant their own tree. And then in fourth grade, they come back.”
Mississippi Agriculture and Commerce Commissioner Andy Gipson said experiences like that play a critical role in rural communities, where exposure to farming has declined even as agriculture remains central to the local economy.
“That is so important not only for economic development in their local community, but it’s important for the next generation to learn where our food comes from and where trees come from,” Gipson said.
According to mschristmastrees.com, Mississippi has about 30 Christmas tree farms statewide, growing thousands of Leyland cypress and Eastern redcedar trees each year. Many of those farms rely on agritourism—including school visits and seasonal events—to remain financially viable.
Family Traditions in Mississippi
For Mississippians like Joey Smith, the experience of picking a Christmas tree reminds him of growing up outdoors when he was younger. Smith said the tradition still matters, adding that it creates connection.
Although his family now uses an artificial tree, Smith said he understands the value of visiting local farms.
“Oh yeah, I’ve got no problem with tree farms,” he said. “We do an artificial tree because it’s easy, but we used to cut our own trees, you know, growing up. I was raised on the farm, so I’m quite familiar with it.”
He said that kind of hands-on experience is something fewer kids have today.
“Most of these kids today couldn’t even operate a shovel or a broom without you teaching them,” Smith said. “Farming is a great way for kids to learn a lot of stuff.”
Smith added that cutting a real tree can be meaningful for families who want to spend time together.
“It kind of gets them in the woods, the fresh air and activity of doing it, and if they go with a family, it’s kind of a unique family experience,” he said. “It’s definitely good for the mind, the spirit.”
Keeping Dollars Close to Home
For families who visit local farms, spending money locally helps sustain businesses that often support one another. The Cooleys said they make a conscious effort to source materials and supplies nearby, from fuel to hay to lumber.
“Our fuel comes from a store not one mile away,” Hope Cooley said. “The hay we feed our animals is grown down the road. The wood for the barn we built was grown and harvested in Mississippi and purchased in Richton.”
Gipson said that cycle of local spending helps keep farms operating year after year.
“When you go out to visit these tree farms, you’re actually helping that farm continue to make a profit so it can continue for the next year,” he said.
As interest in real Christmas trees has grown, 18 Acres expanded its offerings this season to include wreaths, garlands and cut greenery made on-site. The additions gave families more options while helping the farm cover operating costs.
Balancing Tradition and Rising Costs
Despite a strong season, the Cooleys said rising expenses remain a concern. The cost of transplant trees, fertilizer, feed and fungicide has increased, reflecting pressures felt by farmers statewide.
“I know things are going up, and I’ve heard a lot of other real Christmas tree growers talk about it,” Calvin said. “Right now, we’re just starting out, so we haven’t had major problems with it yet.”
To manage costs, the farm has focused on sustainability, including using harvested grapevines to make wreaths and working toward tree propagation to reduce long-term expenses.
Still, Gipson said farms that open their land to the public provide value beyond what can be measured in sales.
“They give people a chance to visit their local farmer,” he said. “That connection is a huge and important way for our farmers to keep their farms going.”
As 18 Acres looks ahead, the Cooleys said they plan to add more educational and seasonal activities—continuing to serve as a place where Perry County families can gather, learn and support local agriculture.
This article first appeared on RHCJC and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.