O Christmas Tree
Flickinger Farms Provides Trees & a Fun Experience for Customers
Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Andy Flickinger, co-owner of Flickinger Farms, a Christmas tree farm in Wakarusa, says his well-known business is located on land that has been in his family for years.
We own the Christmas trees, and operate on land that has been owned by my family for over 100 years, Flickinger says.
Four generations have operated Flickinger Farms, which started in 1894. Its a popular destination for many people who enjoy picking out a Christmas tree for the whole family. Flickinger Farms has become an annual holiday destination for many local residents, and for people from other parts of the Hoosier state.
Flickinger still enjoys seeing his supportive customers happy with their holiday purchases. Many people tell him they like being able to take their time picking out a tree that will please the whole family. They also enjoy taking in the fun holiday atmosphere.
Regular customers have told their friends about Flickinger Farms, and that has helped the business grow dramatically.
We are a choose-and-cut tree farm that allows customers to choose their own Christmas tree from our field, Flickinger says. It is a small farm that caters to families wanting an intimate experience in choosing their own tree.
He says it has been that way since the business began.
We started planting trees in 2014, Flickinger says. The family farm has had multiple crops and livestock over the years, but has primarily grown corn and soybeans over the last few decades. We decided to also plant Christmas trees because there were not many small farms in the area any longer that offered real Christmas trees, and it was an opportunity we wanted to pursue in expanding our farm.
Flickinger Farms has a wide variety of reasonably priced trees to choose from.
The Flickinger family primarily grows Scotch pine and white pine, and also grows smaller quantities of Canaan fir, Fraser fir, Douglas fir, concolor fir, blue spruce and Norway spruce.
We bring in larger Fraser fir precut trees to offer customers the opportunity to get those if they like, Flickinger says.
Flickinger notes that some trees are traditional holiday favorites.
Fraser firs are currently popular trees in the eastern part of the country, he says. At our farm, our customers like Fraser firs that are precut, and they like Scotch pine if they wish to cut down their own.
Flickinger adds that each tagged tree is individually priced, with information on tree species, height and quality. Prices range from $25 to $55 for trees in the field.
In addition to having customers cut down their own trees, Flickinger Farms offers photo opportunities, tree stands, lights, Christmas items, hay rides and free hot chocolate. The Flickinger family also rents out the farm to local photographers throughout the year for family photo sessions. Many families have also made this another festive holiday tradition.
Flickinger says family pets are also allowed to participate in the holiday fun, but must be kept on leashes.
The Flickinger Farms gift and wreath shop is also highly popular, especially during the holidays.
We offer fresh, live wreaths, and tree accessories such as tree stands, tree preservative and removal bags, as well as other decor items, Flickinger says.
Flickinger adds that the wreaths are sturdy and hold their short, soft needles very well.
Flickinger Farms is open for business right in time for the holidays.
We open the day after Thanksgiving at 9 a.m., and are open each weekend as inventory allows, Flickinger says. Were open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. This year we will also be open on Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. as staffing allows.
Being a small farm, Flickinger Farms does have limitations on inventory and varieties.
In order to keep enough trees in future years, we need to constantly monitor the number of trees we can harvest each year, Flickinger says. However, we feel we offer a local option that many people in our community enjoy, and we appreciate them for it.
Flickinger Farms is located at 30210 County Road 40 in Wakarusa. For more info, call 574-850-1471, email flickingerfarms@yahoo.com, or check out flickingerfarms.com.
