NORTH COLLINS, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Some Western New Yorkers took advantage of the Bills' bye week and the weather this weekend by picking our their Christmas trees at Brant's Morley Tree Farm in North Collins.
The farm officially opened for the season this weekend.
Owner Brian Schottin has been running the farm for the last 12 years, transforming it from an abandoned vegetable farm to a Christmas tree farm.
"It was lot of renovation, clearing the fields and cleaning everything up and then we started planting," Schottin said.
Elena Ciurzynski said she has gone to the farm for the past four years to pick out the biggest tree and will go out to lunch with her friends after, making a whole day of it.
For families in Western New York, it's a tradition to go to a farm and cut down their own Christmas trees.
"Just looking to cut that special Christmas tree down," said Peter Morris, who went to the tree farm. "Nothing like walking through the woods, cutting your Christmas tree down with your bare hands."
One of the reasons why families say they partake in the annual activity is to create lasting memories.
"Our parents brought us out into the country to cut our own Christmas tree down and we like to share that with the children too," Morris said.
"Being away at college, I'm happy I get to come home and do this because I would be upset if I got to see them do this without me because it's always something we do together," said Kylie Sikorski, who went to the farm.
Every tree on the farm, from six to 12 feet, costs $60. Schottin expects it to get busier after Thanksgiving, but he said they're prepared.
"I feel like there's always usually enough trees for everybody, so as far as we're concerned, we're in good shape and I've talked to a few wholesalers and they all feel pretty good about things," he said.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.
