LEONARDTOWN, Md. – The Suttler Post Farm Clydesdales of St. Mary’s County completed their ninth consecutive delivery of the official White House Christmas Tree this month, continuing a tradition that began in 2017 for the Southern Maryland draft horse operation.
The farm, located in Mechanicsville, MD, posted photographs and a statement on social media celebrating the milestone. Owners highlighted the annual journey as one of their greatest family joys and a tribute to the Clydesdale breed.
“For the last nine years, the Suttler Post Farm Clydesdales have had the incredible honor of delivering the White House Christmas Tree—a tradition that has become one of our greatest family joys and a proud tribute to the Clydesdale breed and our amazing draft horse industry,” the farm wrote.
Each November, a team of six to eight matched Clydesdales pulls a specially built wagon carrying the selected tree from points across the country to the North Lawn of the White House. The 2025 tree, an 18-foot Fraser fir from Cartner’s Christmas Tree Farm in Newland, North Carolina, arrived November 24 during a public ceremony attended by the First Family.
The tradition dates to 1966 when wagon deliveries first occurred, though teams rotated among several farms until Suttler Post secured the contract beginning with the 2017 season. The farm has now handled every delivery during the Biden and Trump administrations.
Suttler Post Farm raises and trains registered Clydesdales on property along Maryland Route 5 south of Leonardtown. The team that travels to Washington typically includes veteran lead horses familiar with crowds, traffic, and television cameras.
Clydesdales stand 17 to 19 hands tall and weigh between 1,800 and 2,200 pounds. The breed originated in Scotland and gained fame in the United States through Budweiser advertising campaigns featuring eight-horse hitches.
The White House tree delivery remains one of the few remaining public events that showcase working draft horses in an urban setting. Spectators line Pennsylvania Avenue and the Ellipse as the team approaches, and the horses receive veterinary checks and special shoeing with borium studs for traction on pavement.
St. Mary’s County agriculture officials note the exposure has boosted regional interest in draft horse events, including the annual Southern Maryland Draft Horse Pull held each spring at the county fairgrounds.
The National Christmas Tree Association selects the official tree through a competitive process. Growers who win the honor cover transportation costs, and the chosen farm coordinates directly with the White House and the delivery team.
Suttler Post Farm expressed gratitude for continued selection.
“Year after year, these gentle giants step onto the White House grounds with the same strength, grace, and heart that define our team and our farm,” the owners wrote. “Here’s to nine unforgettable years, and to many more ahead.”
