State ag officials tour Bluebird tree farm
Tennessee Agricultural Commissioner Andy Holt, left; Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm owner Leo Collins; and state Rep. Rick Scarbrough are shown during a recent tour of the farm by state ag officials. (photo:Submitted )
Also on hand for a tour of the tree farm was state Rep. Rick Scarbrough, along with state agricultural consultants Emily Davis and Jabob Tipton; Anderson County 4-H leader Breeanna Standford; and Seth Whitehouse, the county extension agent.
The group chose Bluebird as one of the state’s notable agricultural operations to visit this year, Collins said.
Collins and Matt Smith, Bluebird’s foreman, discussed the origin, goals, and day-to-day operations of the farm.
Smith demonstrated chores related to caring for the trees, including how they are sheared.
“Commissioner Holt volunteered to shear a tree, and upon completion, the tree was deemed perfect,” Collins said. “He will be returning to the farm in November to claim it as his personal Christmas tree.”
Bluebird Christmas Tree Farm will open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 19, for the 2026 season, and anticipates closing on Sunday, Dec. 20. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday (but closed the following Thursday, Thanksgiving Day).
Collins said Leyland cypress, Norway spruce, and Fraser firs will be available, ranging in size from 6 to 11 feet.
While the farm offers some live trees customers can pick from the fields, the bulk of the trees sold will be pre-cut varieties the farm has purchased from outside vendors.
The farm also operates a seasonal gift shop, which its Facebook page says is “fully stocked with T-shirts, caps, tree stands, local jams, honey, ornaments, and more.”
The store features bacon and whole smoked country hams from Benton’s Smoky Mountain Ham in Madisonville.
For the past 40-plus years, Collins has run the tree farm to serve as a launch pad for many families’ holiday celebrations.
His pre-cut trees are imported from the mountains of Tennessee and western North Carolina for sale in his big tent. Staff members wrap the trees and help people load them in or on top of their vehicles.
