J&E Contracting Feller Buncher operator Ernie Hals, J&E Contracting Owner Ed Jungers and Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Forester Sam Whitney pose in front of the nearly 35 foot Douglas fir that was cut and delivered to the State Capitol in Helena Nov. 24.
J&E Contracting Feller Buncher operator Ernie Hals loading the Capitol's Christmas tree onto the trailer. The Douglas fir was cut from the Echo Mountain State Timber Sale Nov. 24.
OVANDO – J&E Contracting, of Seeley Lake, provided this year's State Christmas tree that will be on display in the Montana Capitol rotunda in Helena. The Christmas tree is coordinated through the Montana Logging Association. They have worked with Montana loggers to provide a live Christmas tree for the Capitol for the past several years, skipping last year due to COVID.
Montana Logging Association Southwest Regional Representative Bryan Lorengo started coordinating the tree for the Capitol after being asked by former Governor Steve Bullock's budget director. They happened to serve on the same school board.
"Prior to Bullock's administration there hadn't been a real Christmas tree in the Capitol since Mark Racicot [Montana Governor from 1993-2001]," Lorengo said. "I thought, this is a good opportunity. [The Montana Logging Association] wants to do this."
Lorengo said finding the perfect tree is less about wandering around in the woods looking and more about logistics.
He first identifies active logging sales where the road access is easy and second that are within a reasonable distance to Helena. He also tries to rotate loggers that have a feller buncher available to load the tree on the trailer. They have gotten trees off of private and state land in the past.
This year's tree comes from the Echo Mountain Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Timber Sale east of Ovando.
"This just happened to be the sweet spot," Lorengo said. "There is good tree selection up there, the drive to get into Helena is workable and Eddie has the right equipment for us to get that loaded on the trailer."
The Douglas fir stands around 35 feet tall. It was cut Nov. 24 and delivered to the Capitol. The tree lighting ceremony was held Nov. 30.
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