Nestled between lush Christmas tree rows, a spring-fed pond and the Milwaukee River, you’ll come across a rustic white barn with a sign that reads Sandhill Tree Farm. A farm that boasts a rich agricultural history that dates back to 1837. However, the Ness family’s chapter began in 2020.
Jaclyn and Dave Ness were interested in real estate and had been looking at another property when they saw Sandhill Tree Farm was on the market.
“Purchasing a Christmas tree farm, especially in the middle of the pandemic, might seem unconventional. But the pandemic caused many people to reassess their lifestyles and seek fulfillment in activities that bring joy and connection. That’s what drove us,” Jaclyn said.
Jaclyn and Dave began the lengthy process of determining whether this next step in life was the best one for their family. During the visits they made while considering the purchase of the farm, they quickly saw the impact it had on their family as a whole and their three children Callyn (13), Carter (10) and Colton (8).
“Truly that’s what Sandhill does, it creates memories. It creates happiness. It’s provided that to us,” Jaclyn said. “From the joy of cutting down Christmas trees to celebrating life moments, it’s a space where people create cherished memories with their loved ones and that’s what attracted us to it the most.”
Thus began the Ness family’s chapter on the nearly two-century-old farm. A chapter where the family’s passion is to find joy not only for themselves but for their community and the land itself.
The Family
Although it had been a way of life for earlier generations of Jaclyn and Dave’s families, farming had not been practiced recently. As a result, Jaclyn and Dave had to become fully immersed in every aspect of managing a Christmas tree farm.
“Part of the reason this suits us is that Dave and I both have open personalities. We’re not afraid to ask questions or to be humbled. We appreciate the mistakes we’ve made and learn from them,” Jaclyn said.
Jaclyn and Dave have not been the only ones committed to learning; their children have dedicated themselves to the farm as well. Whether it’s helping with planting, pruning or even running the gift shop, their children have found ways they enjoy being involved.
“It’s amazing to have an opportunity for our kids to participate. While they’re young, they’re still able to do so much,” Jaclyn said. “You can’t get a better real-world experience than working on a farm. It develops a strong work ethic, creates entrepreneurial spirit and encourages skill development.”
Callyn has taken the initiative to run the gift shop which has taught her financial literacy, communication skills as well real-time problem-solving. It’s not all work though, Callyn has a passion for this aspect of the business.
Jaclyn also stated that having a central focus to ground the family has allowed them to be more connected to each other. One example of this is the children understanding the time commitment it takes to run a farm and offering help where they can.
“It has allowed us to grow closer and have something as a family to focus on. The kids have their different interests and Dave and I have our day jobs, but this is something that centrally grounds us,” Jaclyn said. “It gives us something that we all find our own happiness in but yet we’re doing it together. That’s the greatest benefit to the family is finding something that we all can singularly focus on together. It brings us closer.
It helps us become who we are.”
The Community
Acquiring Sandhill Tree Farm has not only brought the Ness family closer to each other but also to their newfound community.
When asked what it means to them to be a part of so many families’ holiday traditions, Jaclyn said “Honestly, it fills our hearts. Throughout the year you can get emotionally drained
but those days around Christmas really do fill us back up and create a sense of hope for what the world can be when we all come together.”
Besides the Christmas trees, the Ness family also offers “extra touches of holiday cheer” such as complimentary hot chocolate and candy canes, a crackling campfire and an antique sleigh for photos.
As Jaclyn puts it, “It could be a cold miserable day, but they left feeling warm.”
Being involved with their local community as well as fostering a community centered around Sandhill is of great importance to the Ness family.
“Dave likes to say to the kids, as we’re out and about in the community, we have Sandhill on our back and that’s who we are. Sandhill is us and we are Sandhill,” Jaclyn said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to feel early on an ownership and commitment to the community that we reside in and that the farm is in.”
The Land
Another way the Ness family has found joy since taking on Sandhill has been caring for the land that their farm resides on.
“One of the things that we came into the farm having a strong focus on was sustainability. We really did our research, talked to people and took courses about how to elevate the farm’s sustainability,” Jaclyn said.
The Ness family has implemented sustainable practices such as mitigating the effect of invasive species and utilizing equipment that allows them to cut down on the amount of chemicals used all while planting about two trees for every one that gets cut down. The family also encourages programs that recycle real Christmas trees such as the Department of Natural Resources using them to create fish beds or communities turning the trees into mulch.
These practices have not only been good for business but also for local wildlife.
“We’ve seen a really exciting return of animals to the farm. And I say that with hesitation because the animals can interfere with the trees but we want to live in harmony with them,” Jaclyn said. “The first year we hardly saw any animals out here. And now we have an abundance of cranes, turkeys and hawks.”
The Future
These past three years have been filled with countless memories for the Ness family, and each planting season brings new ones.
“That first planting season, it was that feeling of future,” Jaclyn said. “Not only what we’re doing for our own future as a family but the future of the community, the world, the families that are going to come in 8 to 10 years and take this small transplant home. For us, all the hard work that we put in, is really about trying to bring happiness and joy to the world.”
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