Brandy Station family delivers White House Christmas tree again

The Harmon family of eastern Culpeper County — and its trusty steeds — continued a holiday tradition of delivering the White House Christmas tree last week.

It was the third straight year that Harmon’s Hayrides & Carriages, a family-owned business in Brandy Station, participated in the special trip to the nation’s capital.

Scott Harmon delivered an 18½-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 received the tree — grown by Eric and Gloria Sundback of Shepherdstown, W.Va. — on Nov. 27.

This was the fourth Christmas tree the Sundbacks have donated to the White House. The couple’s trees were displayed twice when Ronald Reagan held office and once under Jimmy Carter, according to the Associated Press.

A White House chief usher and grounds superintendent handpicked the Blue Room Christmas Tree in October.

Midge Harmon said her entire family watched as her son, Scott, delivered the tree.

“It’s a great way to start off the Christmas season,” said Midge Harmon, whose 125-acre farm sits at the end of a narrow gravel road off Carrico Mills Road.