Farmside Acres sent off holiday 1500 trees to service members
This week ten years ago, The Cornwall Local reported that Farmside Acres, a Christmas tree farm located on Angola Rd. in Cornwall had collected 200 Christmas trees to be donated to American servicemen and women and their families. It was the fifth year that the family-owned business had participated in the national program, and certainly, a newsworthy moment.
Fast forward to this week. On Monday morning, starting at about 8:30 a.m., folks started arriving at Farmside Acres. Members of community groups, local leaders (including County Executive Steve Neuhaus, County Legislator Kevin Hines, and Cornwall Supervisor Josh Wojehowski), a bus full of third graders, soldiers from the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart, and five large FedEx trucks. Those arriving had something in common — they were there to work.
Why? Because it was once again Trees for Troops day at the farm. The only difference from 10 years ago? This year, Farmside’s Leigh Nannini said, between 1400 and 1500 trees were waiting to be loaded onto those FedEx trucks.
And they were. The trucks could each hold about 400 nylon-wrapped trees, all bearing tags noting they were donated for Trees for Troops. Many bore tags with personal messages for the recipients — the trees were heading to military families mostly in Georgia, Florida, Missouri and Virginia, Nannini said.
She thanked her volunteers as they prepared to start, paying particular attention to the Lee Rd. Elementary students (of which one was her own child!).
“We are super excited to have you here today,” she said as she explained that they had to take great care as they loaded the trees.
“I need you to respect the trees!” Nannini said. “These trees are going to the homes of military members; someone will be decorating and lighting these trees and it’s going to bring joy to their home. Try to respect the trees and not break off any branches!”
The youngsters, often pairing up with stronger adults, absolutely were careful, and were hard workers. Within a few seconds of Nannini reminding them also to “have fun!” they spread out among the stacked trees and started moving in long lines toward the trucks.
Farmside Acres, according to Trees for Troops, collects the most trees “East of the Rockies,” Nannini said proudly. But she notes that they are not all grown at their farm.
“Some are purchased from the fire department and then donated to us, some come from Adams, some fundraisers (like one by Mary Kelly Photography) are held to purchase trees at other local farms and they get them to us.”
According to www.christmasspiritfoundation.org/trees-for-troops, in 2022, 16,391 trees were picked up from 54 different locations and delivered to 84 military installations in the U.S. across five branches of service.
As part of the national program, FedEx does not charge to transport the trees. The company has shipped more than 250,000 trees since the program was launched in 2004.
Once the school children had finished helping with the loading of the trees, they enjoyed a little snack before heading back to school. After they left, those FedEx trucks also pulled out of the farm’s driveways, leaving Nannini some time to catch her breath.
Catching his breath too, after hoisting and delivering trees to the FedEx trucks, was County Executive Neuhaus.
“I’m very grateful that Bob Nannini (owner of Farmside Acres) and his family have made this an annual event,” Neuhaus said. “It brings the community together and serves as a wonderful way to provide some Holiday cheer to our brave servicemen and women, and their families. We are all appreciative of their sacrifice and hope this small gesture shows our gratitude. I enjoyed spending time at Farmside Acres with a group of great people.”
