Inspiring Conversations with Jane Neubauer of Sugar Pines Farm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jane Neubauer.  

Hi Jane, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My husband, Fritz, and I purchased Sugar Pines Farm in the summer of August 2012. Prior to purchasing it he owned a tree service and was a certified arborist, and I owned a market research and business planning consulting firm. Along with our young boys, Fritz and Sam, we enjoyed all sort of outdoor-related hobbies, including hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, and just hanging around a good bonfire! So, when we saw this Christmas tree farm for sale not far from our home it seemed like a natural fit! We just finished our eleventh tree season – we’ve had to learn a lot along the way but have found it to be the perfect fit for our family. 

For background, Sugar Pines Farm is Christmas tree farm offering cut-your-own, fresh pre-cut, and live-balled Christmas trees. The farm was started in the early eighties, and we purchased it from the original owners. Through the year we also dig and sell landscape trees, and we make our own maple syrup in the springtime (we are doing that right now!). 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, this has been an amazing business to be in as a family. But of course, like any other business, there have been struggles! Between the two of us, we had quite a bit of relevant experience in trees and in running a business…but neither one of us had any real retail experience (except for working in the local mall as a teenager!). During the tree season, we have thousands of people through our gates in a very short period of time, so learning how to manage that and provide the best customer experience possible is something we continue to work on. In addition, we employ close to 50 seasonal employees during tree season — neither one of us had managed more than a couple people before that…so the learning curve was significant there as well. Fortunately, we have the BEST staff, and they’ve made it easy on us! Growing beautiful trees is a lot of work… so we’ve had a LOT to learn along the way (we’re still learning) about best practices…from planting to trimming, weed control, managing pests, etc… there is a lot that goes into growing trees and achieving a high survival rate. We’ve certainly has some struggles as we learn what does and doesn’t work. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Sugar Pines Farm?
Owning a Christmas tree farm is about much more than agriculture or farming. We see ourselves as being in the business of happiness and memory-making. Families and friends come to our farm at Christmas time for the experience…of course, they come for a tree, but they also come to spend time together choosing their tree, for the experience of the hunt for the perfect one, for cutting it down, tying it on the car…for the opportunity to enjoy a hot chocolate or s’mores around our fire pit, or take a hay wagon ride together, or a visit with Santa. We have many customers who have been coming to our farm for decades…some who came with their parents as a child are now bringing their kids. We feel honored to be a part of our customers’ family traditions – that’s the best part of owning a tree farm. 

One recent thing we are really proud of is our partnership with the Hallmark Channel. We were one of a few farms chosen from across the country for a marketing partnership related to their Countdown to Christmas series. This was certainly a lot of fun for us and our customers! 

We are also just really proud of our staff…we know that the #1 reason our business has been successful is because of them. We simply have the best around! 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
This is an interesting question. Timing can be everything…so perhaps it was luck that this farm became available at a time when we were in a position to consider purchasing it. The timing was right in terms of where we were with our careers and family. We certainly were not out looking for a Christmas tree farm to buy (or any farm to buy for that matter)! But suddenly there was a beautiful one for sale 5 minutes form our home…life has never been the same since! 

Pricing:

• Christmas trees range from $25-300+
• Wreaths, greenery from $15-100+
• Landscape trees from $100-250
• Maple syrup from $10-65

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sugarpinesfarm.com
• Instagram: @sugarpinesfarm
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/sugarpinesfarm

Image Credits
Keri Osolin Photography