Today we’d like to introduce you to Roger & Trudy.
Roger & Trudy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Unangst Tree Farms started as a 100 acre dairy farm. In the early to mid 1980’s the Unangst children were mostly in college or living out of state. Dad got sick with cancer leaving no one available to take care of the cows. There was also another issue with the herd forcing the family to stop dairy farming. Roger, the youngest child (the only child who bleeds farming), knowing he could never sustain a family on a 100 acre wheat/corn farm, decided to plant 500 trees in 1984 which was the beginning of Unangst Tree Farms. We are currently planting approx 10,000 to 14,000 transplants every Spring depending on how much space we have for planting. In 1999, we expanded the farm to include a Pumpkin Season while staying true to agriculture. Hard work and dedication has allowed us to purchase additional land throughout the past 10 years expanding the original farm acreage to approx 250 acres. We are also currently renting land which is used strictly for growing beautiful Christmas trees. What does the future hold for Unangst Tree Farms? The next generation plans on keeping the family farm alive and prospering.🎄
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There hasn’t been an easy year in the past 42 years. Farmers are at the mercy of the weather and the weather is never perfect for farming. We also started farming with no workable equipment…..just the land. We joke around that all we had was a roll of duct tape. There is one year that sticks out as an extremely difficult one: Our main planting tractor broke down during planting season…..a new tractor was in the driveway the next morning because it was going to be 4-6 weeks for the tractor to be up and running again. A few short weeks later, an employee made a $20,000.00+ error while we were also experiencing several financial home projects/issues. We never thought we would get through that year, but God provided every step of the way. Fact: Farming is tough and you are never guaranteed an income, but the farming community watches out for one another and we were so fortunate to watch our children grow into incredible hard-working independent adults who will forever call the farm……HOME.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Unangst Tree Farms specializes is Pumpkins and Christmas Trees. We are known for making family time affordable and memorable while remaining true to farming. We are one of the few farms around who have stayed true to agriculture during our Fall Pumpkin Season. No bounce houses, jumping pads or amusement rides…..just a good old farm experience with hayrides, farm animals, a large beautiful variety of pumpkins still on the vine along with exploring one of our corn mazes. We do have some fun weekend special events such as live music, special character days, Little Farmer Workshops, etc. We are also one of the largest Christmas Tree Farms in the Lehigh Valley. We take pride in growing beautiful Christmas Trees and love when we see all the smiles on our customers faces knowing they found their perfect Christmas Tree. Customers come for a true farm experience while exploring a clean environment with friendly and respectful staff. What are we most proud of? Staying true to agriculture and preserving our 250 acre farm which will continue through the hard work of our son and his family. We need to remember: No Farms. No Food.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
We can’t say there is anything specific. Being involved in the PA Christmas Tree Growers Association along with the PA Vegetable Grower’s Association has always been an asset with conferences and other learning opportunities. During the conferences there is an opportunity to discuss issues/ideas with others. But the best learning tool has been life itself. Learning as you go, learning from mistakes and learning from and listening to your customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unangst-treefarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unangsttreefarm/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnangstTreeFarm
