Crystal Spring Tree Farm has decorated the state Capitol once again.

Chris Botek, third- generation Lehighton farm owner, delivered the 22-foot Douglas fir to the Harrisburg Rotunda last week, along with 29 other trees to beautify the Capitol for the holiday season."There are trees in all the offices of the Capitol building, in Soldier's Grove and outside the Capitol building as well," Botek said. "There are also trees in the governor's residence and the lieutenant governor's home."According to Botek, he has delivered trees to the Capitol 19 out of 20 years."I'm probably the only grower around that is crazy enough to grow those big trees."To be selected for the honor a grower must be a member of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree Growers Association. If the grower can fill the entire order of 30 trees to the height specifications requested, their trees are taken on the journey to the Capitol."I think I'm one of the only growers who grow those big trees and can fill the order. I also get description requests like a 7-foot Fraser."Botek grows over 15 varieties of trees on his 250-acre farm. "It's about 200 acres too many," he said, joking.The farm has been in his family since the 1950s with his grandfather purchasing the very first acres in order to grow trees to sell at the family grocery store.In 1964 Botek's parents purchased a 26-acre farm, eventually adding land, until Chris took over and purchased more parcels for what is now the massive 250-acre farm.The farm has shipped Christmas trees to the White House in 2006, 2010 and 2014. The tree has to be 20 feet high to be displayed in the Blue Room. "They make you wait four years to re-qualify but in 2013 the grower who was picked couldn't supply the tree, so they called me."When you win, it's a storm. You deliver the trees and present the main tree to the first lady," Botek said. "The security is crazy. The dogs come right into the truck and you can only bring your significant other."Botek said the tree grower is then invited back to see the White House completely decorated."Black Friday is when you present your tree and they are only just starting the decorating process. Then you get invited back to see the whole thing finished. You and your family get to tour through the White House."According to Botek, his farm is the only farm in the state to win the honor more than twice, and the second farm in the country to win more than three times.Botek graduated from Penn State with a bachelor's degree in horticulture and serves as secretary on the growers association board."I spoke yesterday at the lighting about how important it is to the commonwealth to put a real Christmas tree on display in the Capitol. It promotes the real tree industry. The trees are a renewable and recyclable resource," he said.For every tree that is cut down, two or three are planted in its place. "It's a crop just like corn. Only I have to wait eight years instead of one to harvest," Botek said.Pennsylvania has 1,400 Christmas tree farms, with the state ranking third in the country for harvesting roughly 1 million trees per year."It's a neat business," he said. "It's hard work but it's rewarding because the families who buy trees from you will be sitting around those trees Christmas morning celebrating."