Meet the Team at Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm
Written by Lia Hobel | Photos by Shannon Ayres
Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm in Berryville has long been a beloved spot for families eager to cut or purchase a real Christmas tree, offering a festive and memorable experience each holiday season.
The Wegmeyer family, well known for their spring strawberries and autumn pumpkins, took over the Berryville farm two years ago, bringing their signature spirit and agricultural expertise to this cherished winter tradition. Harriet and Tyler Wegmeyer, along with lifelong friend Lee Ann Schwope, are now in their second holiday season of fulfilling Christmas magic.
Their path to the Christmas tree business began with the everyday chaos of family life — a late arrival to an interest meeting in the summer of 2024 after shuttling kids to football and golf practice. Harriet remembers, “I was probably a minute late, and there was one seat in the front row. I walked in and it ended up being Paris Rasnic — the previous owner. During the break, he said to me, ‘I know who you are. I can get you in Christmas trees a whole lot earlier.’ That was it — in that simple conversation, something was happening.”
For Harriet, the idea of adding Christmas trees to the family’s agricultural repertoire was both thrilling and intimidating. “My husband has wanted Christmas trees for — let’s see, our oldest child is 19 years old, so he’s probably wanted Christmas trees for like 15 years,” she laughs. “When the boys were little, I didn’t want Thanksgiving and Christmas to be occupied by a seasonal operation. I wanted our children to be able to explore other opportunities of celebrating, not just be tied down to trees. But as our kids got older, I said, ‘OK, this will be the time we can plant trees.’”
The endeavor was also made possible by partnership. Schwope, a childhood friend of Harriet’s who had moved from Ohio to Virginia, was eager to reconnect with her agricultural roots. When she expressed interest in farming, Harriet offered her the opportunity to join the new venture. “I said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this crazy opportunity that doesn’t come along very often. What do you think?’ And here we are — it’s amazing.”
Schwope says the business became more than just a new agricultural undertaking; it evolved into a meaningful way to foster community and connection. “In the beginning, I was not sure what to think because the concept was new to me,” she shares. “However, fast-forward through a lot of discussions, planning, and here we are with such a beautiful opportunity to grow trees and bring the spirit of Christmas to families and homes across Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.”
Together with Tyler, they formed a team where each person brings unique strengths: Tyler spearheads planting, shearing, and harvesting; Harriet focuses on customer experience and business operations; and Schwope, who also lives on the farm, manages the farm store. She describes living there as magical. “The sunsets and sunrises, seeing my family, friends, and dogs enjoy the land — it is the most beautiful gift. The thing people say the most when they visit is, ‘This is like a Hallmark movie,’ and I could not agree more.”
Transitioning from strawberries and pumpkins to evergreens came with its own challenges, but their first season was a success, Harriet recalls. Their experience with other crops helped the team navigate the new venture with few obstacles. “Much like strawberry season, seeing happy families spending time together, having fun, and creating lasting memories on our farm is very rewarding for me,” Tyler shares. “As a farmer who now grows Christmas trees, a lot of the challenges of a growing season are similar with other crops, with the big exception being that trees take at least eight years to grow before they get to harvest height.” But, he continues, “The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of a home during the magical holiday season, and that makes all the effort of growing a perfect tree worth it.”
The official start of the season at Moose Apple began Thanksgiving weekend. To ensure a smooth experience for all visitors, a reservation system helps organize the tree cuttings. “Everybody literally wants to come at 10 or 11 on Friday after Thanksgiving, but we spread it out so folks can be happy and not have a logjam of traffic.” For those who like to plan ahead, tree-tagging weekends in October and November allow families to select their tree and then return later to cut it. “When they check out, they pick a date and time to come back and actually cut their tree,” Harriet explains.
December is when the farm fully transforms into a hub of holiday cheer. “We’ll have photos with Santa the first two weekends of December, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It’s free — just come get a great photo,” Harriet says. Custom wreaths, candy cane trees, and horse wreaths are crafted on-site, adding festive touches for visitors and their loved ones. “It’s a great way to add a little more holiday cheer for yourself or for a neighbor or friend.” Treats like doughnuts and hot chocolate are also offered to warm visitors on chilly days.
For the Wegmeyers, growing Christmas trees is more than a business; it’s a way to bring families together and create new traditions. “You don’t necessarily know it at the time, but things just line up and there are little surprises every single day,” Harriet reflects. “This is the way it turned out, and we’re so grateful.” ML
Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm is located at 2425 Wickliffe Road in Berryville. To learn more, visit mooseapplechristmastreefarm.com.
Published in the December 2025 issue of Middleburg Life.