<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1LGE2m_1H1iov5800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1LGE2m_1H1iov5800" width="1140" height="641" ><figcaption>The Johnson family: Trent, Collette, Mary Dean, and Brad stand next to Teaghan (7) and Bridger (4).</figcaption></figure>It takes a decade to grow a Christmas tree, but for the Johnson family, it’s taken four generations to grow B &amp; J Evergreen. A family businessSeventy years ago, Wally Johnson started a tree farm in Clear Lake, MN, so that his family would not have to spend their summers in the cities. He and his wife owned a cabin on Lake Julia, one of the Briggs Lake chain of lakes. Wally worked for Donaldson Manufacturing and wanted to teach his son how to work.Brad Johnson, his son, said he started working on the tree farm when he was in sixth grade. That’s when the trees were big enough to be trimmed. By the time he graduated High School, he vowed to never to work with Christmas trees again for the rest of his life. Brad went to college and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota. He tried doing other things but ultimately decided he could sell Christmas trees to earn a living, so he came back to the farm. His dad was always a part of the business but was never a farmer. Together they made plans to grow the business. Brad would have to grow more trees. “It’s not like growing corn. It takes 10-12 years to grow a tree,” said Brad.In the years to follow, Brad grew more than trees. He and his wife of 57 years, Mary Dean, began growing their family. They met over the summer and fell in live when they were teenagers. Their son, Trent began working on the farm when he was 13 sheering Christmas trees. He had a similar journey to his fathers. He graduated from Becker High School in 1999 and decided to leave the farm. He attended Saint John’s University, graduating with a BS in Management and Economics in 2003. In the years that followed, he tried doing other things but, like his dad, eventually came back to Christmas trees. They continue to run the business together today. The original Clear Lake farm alone is 200 acres and over 100,000 trees are planted there which includes Fraser firs, white pines, and blue spruce.The futureTrent and his wife Collette just recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary. She is from Grand Rapids. They met up north. Before they were married, Trent said to her, “There’s something you gotta know about me. There’s two things. I run a business, a tree farm. That’s a different life.” He explained how it all worked. The second was that in the winter he and his friends go skiing, which they continue to do today.Their two sons Teagan (7) and Bridger (4) just planted their first Christmas trees this year. Trent said he’ll give them the choice to work on the family farm, though Teagan already has. Last year, Teagan greeted customers with his Grandma Mary Dean, handing them maps and answer questions. He told his teacher it was a world record day. The farm set an attendance record that day. Their work familyThe farm has eight full-time staff year-round and 14 seasonal workers from April to December. At the peak of the season, more than 120 people work between all five of their locations in Clear Lake, Princeton, Richfield, St. Louis Park, and Eden Prairie. Collete later wrote, “It’s so important to recognize our employees – none of this would be possible without our amazing crew. I just wanted to stress how hard working, forward thinking, and overall awesome our farm family is.”A family experience Brad teared up as he shared stories of the families who have visited the farm over the years. He explained that’s the real reason they do what they do. They offer time and memories that will last a lifetime. Generations have visited year after year from across the state and country, he explained. In 2011, they started a wishing tree. It was the idea of then manager Kathy Jones. She thought people could decorate a tree with their wishes. They have ever since and have returned to tell the Johnson family whether those wishes came true or not. Some of the most moving stories have involved pregnancies after years of trying and new romances. “The business has turned into a celebration,” said Trent. Early bird weekend begins in Clear Lake on November 21 and 22. Trees are still only $75.99, the same as last year. Festivities include a visit from Santa, wagon rides, and face painting. Other characters will visit throughout the day as well, including Mrs. Claus, Santa’s elves, and the Grinch. Families can visit Clark the camel, who will be a part of the petting zoo. There’s a playground, a campfire, and a wishing tree. Visit their website to learn more about times and events at all locations. </div></body>

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It takes a decade to grow a Christmas tree, but for the Johnson family, it’s taken four generations to grow B & J Evergreen. Seventy years ago, Wally Johnson started a tree farm in Clear Lake, MN, so that his family would not have to spend their summers in the cities. He and his wife owned a cabin on Lake Julia, one of the Briggs Lake chain of lakes. Wally worked for Donaldson Manufacturing and wanted to teach his son how to work.

B & J Evergreen Grows Families

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It takes a decade to grow a Christmas tree, but for the Johnson family, it’s taken four generations to grow B & J Evergreen. Seventy years ago, Wally Johns

B & J Evergreen Grows Families

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