This year's official White House Christmas tree will again come from a Carbon County farm. The tree was cut on Sunday at Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton and traveled to Washington this morning.

"We practiced that cut all year," joked owner Chris Botek, after cutting the tree so that it fell gracefully onto a waiting trailer.They certainly have practice cutting and delivering large trees. This is the fourth Christmas tree the farm has delivered to the White House, and the third time they've earned the honor by being named national grand champion at the National Christmas Tree convention. The Botek family also delivered a tree to the White House last year, when a suitable tree could not be found at the winner's farm.Farms are eligible to win the honor just once every four years. The Botek family has done just that, with farm founder and father Francis Botek earning the right to deliver the White House tree in 2006. Son Chris Botek repeated the feat in 2010 and again in 2014.This year's tree, a 19 1/2-foot concolor fir, was planted in 1995 when it was several years old. Botek estimates that the tree is 23 years old. It is by far the largest and widest tree the family has delivered to the White House."This tree is so big that we had to bale it before we cut it," said Botek, adding that the tree likely weighs more than 1,000 pounds.In addition to this tree, which will be displayed in the White House Blue Room, Botek will also deliver a 10-foot concolor fir for the Oval Office.The Blue Room tree will be officially presented to Michelle Obama this Friday and televised live.This year's win at the National Christmas Tree convention, and the honor of delivering the White House tree, couldn't come at a better time.Crystal Spring Tree Farm is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The farm was established in 1964 by his parents, Francis and Margaret Botek, who remain active on the farm."I can remember being here on the farm with my dad, for as long as I can remember. It's in my blood," Botek said. "It's all that I know."November and December are busy months for the farm.Botek said it's difficult to take two days off to deliver and present the tree but that the family is grateful for a chance to touch so many people with their Christmas trees."The tree is the focal point of many people's holidays, where they'll sit around the tree on Christmas morning to open presents," Botek said."It's an honor to be part of these people's lives."There's something special about having a real tree for Christmas," he said."If a real Christmas tree is good enough for the White House, it's good enough for a family's home."As he finished securing the tree for its journey, Francis Botek watched with a smile on his face."It's going to look beautiful," he said.