The visit to Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm by White House staff was initially delayed because of damaged roads, Greene said. When the staff made their selection in late October, they adorned their tree of choice with a red, white and blue ribbon that was larger than a basketball, Cartner said.

It was the regionality and subject matter but also the steel underneath the quiet tale that called it to mind when I spoke to Jennifer Greene, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Christmas Tree Association recently,

A North Carolina farm hit by Hurricane Helene is set to provide the White House with a Christmas tree this holiday season. Cartner's Christmas Tree Farm, located in Avery County, faced severe challenges after the storm unleashed destructive mudslides,

We wanted to really be an uplifting symbol for the other farmers and other people in western North Carolina that have experienced so many losses."

This year's White House Christmas Tree is named "Tremendous," and comes from a part of North Carolina hit hard by Helene. Here's the full story.