Wisconsin State Capitol to welcome local tree in December ceremony

The Wisconsin State Capitol’s holiday tree for 2024, a 36-foot balsam fir from Rick and Bev Burke’s property in Pine Lake, Oneida County, will soon be the centerpiece of the Capitol rotunda.
This selection marks an annual tradition in which a tree is sourced from Wisconsin landowners, a custom that brings communities together in a celebration of the season and Wisconsin’s rich forestry heritage.
On Nov. 12, family, friends and neighbors gathered to watch the ceremonial tree cutting, a festive occasion filled with pride and joy for the Burke family.
The Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association, an organization dedicated to sustainable forestry, took charge of the harvest, assisted by volunteers from Ponsse, a forest machinery company. Henry Schienebeck, Executive Director of the Association, was also present to support the Burkes and oversee the day’s activities.
Each year, the State of Wisconsin’s Department of Administration works with timber professionals to select a tree that meets specific standards: it must be over 35 feet tall, have a balanced, untrimmed shape, and be accessible to logging trucks.

Rick Burke’s submission fit the bill perfectly, standing naturally tall without having ever been pruned or shaped by human hands. Once harvested, the tree’s branches were carefully tied up to meet highway regulations for transport, while extra limbs were brought along to replace any branches lost along the way.
Once in Madison, the tree will be unwrapped and positioned at the Capitol’s rotunda entrance, where its size and form are adjusted to fit through the building’s doors. Workers will secure the tree in its stand and attach extra branches as needed to restore its full shape, ensuring it looks picture-perfect.
As a memento, the Burkes were given a small slab of the trunk, a cherished piece of the tree’s history.
On Dec. 5 at noon, the Burke family’s balsam fir will be officially lit in a public ceremony held in the Capitol rotunda, a tradition that welcomes residents from across the state to gather, celebrate and admire Wisconsin’s holiday tree and the spirit it represents.