HOLIDAY FARM OFFERS CHRISTMAS TREES

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Dancer, Prancer and Rudy are gone, but Tito and Bud can be found daily at Holiday Farms in Southern Illinois. Tito and Bud are giant Clydesdales -- they weigh about a ton each that were obtained by Larry and Pam Miles to pull a covered wagon over their Christmas Entertainment Tree Farm, a short distance Illinois 146 near Jonesboro. Holiday Farm is much more than Christmas trees. "Of course, people can drive through acres of pines to select a perfect tree," said Larry Miles, "but a family can leave here with a number of family memories." These include watching elves stir the "kettle corn" and keeping watch over the popcorn kettles or looking through a window to get a view of the Claus' kitchen, with elves feeding Santa Claus cookies and hot cocoa. Outside the Claus' living room is Santa's sleigh with reindeer. Down the road a bit is Goatville, where elves are busily making toys and other Christmas items. The elves appear to have goat faces.

A gift shop there contains a pot-bellied store.

All the workers at the farm are dressed in overalls, red flannel shirts and black Dave Lennox hats."We have a good time here at Holiday Farms," said Miles. "The best time for action is during the weekend, but we're open every day for tree sales. We conduct a number of school tours." The Miles, who have operated Holiday Farm about 15 years, had housed three reindeer who played "reindeer games" at the farm for a number of years before they went to reindeer heaven. And, yes, reindeer are a difference species than whitetail deer. They're smaller, their hooves are flatter, and both male and female have antlers."We like to keep reindeer here, but they don't adapt to our weather conditions that well," Miles said. The Miles obtained the Clydesdales several years ago and have trained them. "Following wagon rides through the forests, we place saddles on the Clydesdales and let children ride them," said Miles.

There are a some funny scenes along the wagon route, including a reindeer up a tree dressed like a hunter. In another scene, a reindeer dressed like a snow skier has just smashed into a tree. The Miles planted their first Christmas trees more than 20 years ago and have operated a tree farm the past 15 years. "We have mostly Scotch pines and white pines," said Miles. "We also have wreaths, garlands and other accessories." The trees sell for $3 to $7 a foot, and once the tree is purchased, Holiday Farm workers take out all of the dead needles and provide a free "disposal" bag for the tree after Christmas.

Despite a summer drought that swept the country, tree growers say trees and buyers were plentiful the day after Thanksgiving.

A legend says the Christmas tree was introduced to America in Virginia in 1842 when Charles Minnigrode began decorating trees in Williamsburg. The National Christmas Tree Association says Americans annually buy 33 million evergreens for the holiday season.