Brandy Station family delivers White House tree again

The Harmon family of eastern Culpeper County — and its trusty steeds — continued a holiday tradition of delivering the White House Christmas tree to Washington, D.C. last week.
It was the third year in a row Harmon’s Hayrides & Carriages, a family-owned business based out of Brandy Station, participated in the ceremonial trip to the nation’s capital.
Scott Harmon delivered an 18 ½-foot Douglas fir to the North Portico, thanks to his two Belgian draft horses: Wallstreet and Karry.
First lady Michelle Obama and daughters, Sasha and Malia, re-ceived the tree — grown by Eric and Gloria Sundback of Shep-herdstown, W.Va. — on Nov. 27.
This was the fourth Christmas tree the Sundback’s have donated to the White House. The couple’s trees were displayed twice when Ronald Reagan held office and once under Jimmy Carter, accord-ing to the Associated Press.
A White House chief usher and grounds superintendent hand-picked the Blue Room Christmas Tree from in October.
Midge Harmon said her entire family watched as her son, Scott, delivered the tree.
“It’s a great way to start of the Christmas season,” said Midge Harmon, whose 125-acre farm sits at the end of a narrow gravel road off Carrico Mills Road.