BY: GRACE HILLS
Kansas Reflector
CEDAR CREST — The best gift Statehouse Republicans could give Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly this holiday season is collaboration to resolve Kansas’ water issues, she said Tuesday at the annual Christmas tree donation at Cedar Crest.
“Recognizing that that is not a political win or loss for anybody, but absolutely essential for the future in this state,” Kelly said.
In August Kelly elevated water to her highest priority. She’s concerned with creating a long-term sustainable strategy that recognizes the falling levels in the Ogallala Aquifer.
And the Democrats?
“I hadn’t really thought about what the Democrats themselves could give me,” Kelly said. “There’s probably not a lot in this upcoming session. What they could do is get some really good candidates for November 2026, break that supermajority so that regardless of who the next governor is there will be an absolute need to work together to get anything done.”
Republicans currently have a supermajority in both the House and Senate, enough to override the governor’s vetoes.
Charlotte Cooper, granddaughter of Dave Bruton — the Kansas Forest Service liaison with the Kansas Christmas Tree Growers Association — isn’t entirely sure what she wants this holiday season either. Lucky for Cooper, Santa’s elves encouraged him to make business cards, so her mom can e-mail Santa with her list. She even got the chance to talk to Santa at Tuesday’s event.
“This is a good group,” Santa said. “Santa always likes to reward the good people, and tell the others they have time —”
“Do you live in the North Pole?” Cooper interjected.
“Most of the time. When I’m not living down here, checking up on children,” Santa said.
Santa, Cooper and others rode in a replica of a Wells Fargo stagecoach up to the governor’s mansion to deliver the donated Christmas decorations.
Two six-year-old Percheron horses carried the stagecoach. They replaced Bess and Betty, who carried the stagecoach for years before. The ceremony was the horses’ first large crowd, and they acted “about what you would guess,” according to Robin Dunn of Dunn’s Landing farm near Wellsville.
When asked if the new horses would be able to replace Bess and Betty, Dunn responded with a swift “no.” Then she paused.
“Well, I don’t know,” Dunn said. “It’ll take about 15 years. In 15 years ask me that question again.”
On top of the stagecoach was an 8½-foot tall Scotch pine grown on the Strawberry Hill Christmas Tree Farm in Lawrence. Each year one farm from the Kansas Christmas Tree Association donates the tree.
According to Mark Walther, part of the family who runs Strawberry Hill, his late brother Mitch volunteered.
“Well, it’s kind of a sad story,” Walther said. “So Mitch stepped up and unfortunately passed away. So then it’s like, well, shoot, because he didn’t tell me which tree it was.”
Mitch died unexpectedly in July. When the time came, the family went to the field and chose the tree with the nicest height and shape.
This is the third year that Chris Seets from Chris’s Tree Lodge in Abilene presented a wreath.
“Hopefully, this is the first time I get to actually meet the governor. I’ve always handed it to lieutenant governors in the past,” Seets said shortly before the presentation.
Perhaps Santa overheard her comment, because Seets was called up to present her wreath to Kelly in front of the mansion.
“I was just so excited. I think I spoke to her. I don’t know, I’m not sure,” Seets said after.
After the carriage rolled in and Seets presented her wreath, the group entered the mansion to watch the tree be placed in a corner. Kelly adorned it with an ornament that recognized Charles Robinson, Kansas’ first governor.
Kelly thanked the farmers, volunteers, and families who made the event happen. Cooper responded with a toothless grin.
“When did you lose that?” Kelly asked.
“When my mom was out of town,” Cooper said.