AVERY COUNTY, NC — For nearly 60 years a family owned tree farm nestled in the mountains of western North Carolina has provided thousands of Christmas trees.  This year for the first time a 20 foot Frazier Fir has been selected for a distinctive honor. “He came down about 2 weeks ago and walked through our farm here and looked through various trees and he selected the one he wanted,” Jim Cartner said.  Its been selected by the White House groundskeeper to be proudly displayed in the White House blue room this year.  An honor co-owner Jim Cartner said his father dreamed of. “When my father was alive we used to walk all over this farm and try to select the winning tree and we never did, but this past year we won.” That dream is now a reality as crews cut down the 25 year old tree Wednesday and loaded it on a truck. The farm lost nearly six thousand trees due to a mudslide from Hurricane Helene. Cartner said  the tree selection is an honor felt not just by his family, but the community. “I think it does instill pride. It’s part of the county that survived and every one has pitched in together to recover,” Cartner said.  It comes in the midst of great loss, as Newland recovers from Helene. “It’s just been really hard. There’s still so much to do around here. There’s still so many people that are going without,” Teresa Storie said. Teresa Storie’s family owns the company that cut the tree. They’ve cut four trees that have been displayed in the White House, but this year is extra special as they celebrate a reminder of hope in the aftermath of a storm.  “We’re glad to be a part of it and hopefully unify the people here and the nation.”