Ken Olson has received much acclaim during his nearly sixty years growing trees in Minnesota.
There have been a multitude of ribbons won at the Minnesota State Fair's Christmas tree competition, including the one of his evergreens seen this past summer at the Ag-Hort Building adorned with the grand champion's purple ribbon.
It was Olson's 15th top prize at the state fair.
But a guy growing trees in tiny Sandstone going up against Christmas tree farmers from across the nation?
Not nearly as much hardware - once making it to the finals - until Ken qualified for this year's national competition held in August in nearby Cambridge.
"We won reserve champion," said Olson's daughter-in-law Myra Olson, who works with him at Happy Land Tree Farm, expressing not a bit of regret that they fell short of the top prize.
"We're honored to have made it this far," she said, pointing out that the reserve champion supplies the tree that goes to the Washington residence of Vice President Kamala Harris. "We never expected to be doing this part."
So, late last week, the family tramped out to the rows and rows of Balsam and Canaan Firs, Scotch and White Pines, chainsaw in hand, a trailer, and a map to the nation's capital.
"We basically look at what is our best tree," Myra said. "We look at the tree that has the most perfect shape, best color. We kind of keep an eye out for the most exceptional one."
And they believe they found it: a 10-foot-tall Frazier Fir with a blueish tint, a straight and true trunk all the way to the top, and branches that are full all the way around.
Just after 12 noon on Friday, Tony Bacon knelt under the tree and fired up the saw, taking two swipes to make a clean cut through the trunk.
Baden Hilty was there to catch the tree and lower it gently to the ground.
After several days of storage, the tree is now headed to Washington.
Estimated day of arrival at the 19th-century house at Number One Observatory Circle in northwestern Washington D.C. is Wednesday.
Volunteers will set up the tree and handle the decorations.
Now 74, Ken Olson has also provided Christmas trees to the Minnesota Governor's residence on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.
"He has been growing trees for his entire life," said daught-in-law Myra. "And he's really good at it."