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Feisley’s Tree Farms in Belmont Helps Residents Have a Merry Christmas

For many people, it simply isn’t Christmas without the lights, the stockings over the fireplace, and the wreaths decorating the outside of the house.

But the center of any yuletide display is the Christmas tree, laden with ornaments and lights, and capped with a shining star. For those who enjoy a traditional live tree, Feisley Tree Farms in Belmont has been a Christmas staple in the Ohio Valley area for more than 50 years.

The tree farm began back in the late 1940s, as a young man named John Pershing Feisley was working as a soil conservation agent in Ohio. On a visit to an area farm, Feisley spoke with a man who was growing Christmas trees to sell.

He became fascinated with the idea and began to plant his own trees in the hills of Eastern Ohio.

After marrying and having three children, Feisley continued to grow trees, turning it into a true family business with the children helping out on the farm to maintain the trees and assist how they could. Son Geoff Feisley graduated West Virginia University with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1980, enabling him to join his family business full time.

The tree farm continued as a wholesale operation through the 1960s and 1970s, eventually expanding with a retail operation in St. Clairsville after John Feisley retired from soil and water conservation in the late 1970s, enabling him to dedicate his full energies to the tree farm.

Theresa Feisley married her husband, Geoff, in 1982 and has been involved with the family farm business ever since, never looking back or regretting anything.

“I immediately jumped into the business,” she said as she busily prepared decorated wreaths for sale.

Theresa Feisley said the business eventually expanded, especially the cut and choose option, causing them to move to their current location about 20 years ago. The family lives in a restored farmhouse, more than a century old.

Now, more than 50 years after the start of the business, Theresa Feisley said the family manages more than 600 acres, with 120 acres dedicated to choose and cut trees. And she said the business shows no signs of slowing down.

“We’re seeing a massive increase in people wanting live trees, especially millenials who are into live trees and healthy lifestyles,” she said. “Our circle is definitely growing. We draw people from Cleveland, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Morgantown, even below Morgantown.”

The farm offers two ways to select the perfect Christmas tree to ensure that everyone has the holiday experience they are looking for.

Customers can visit the retail lot at the intersection of Ohio 9 south and Interstate 70 in St. Clairsville to select a variety of fresh cut trees for their home, or customers can opt for delivery.

In the restored historic barn on the property, guests can purchase hot cider and cocoa, as well as baked goods and popcorn, providing customers with fuel for the hike to their chosen tree.

On the weekends, the farm also has chain saw carving demonstrations and complimentary hayrides, encouraging families to make a day out of coming out and selecting their tree.

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