The History of Dutchman Tree Farms
With farms located throughout beautiful Northern Michigan, Dutchman Tree Farms has been growing trees for over 4 decades. A family run agri-business that has been in operation since 1972, Dutchman Tree Farms was started by Steve VanderWeide, the son of Dutch farming immigrants. Steve began by distributing trees and operating a retail lot at the Atlanta Farmers Market, where he became known as the Dutchman. Steve, his wife Debra, their six daughters, and over 200 employees during the harvest season work to make sure that orders are delivered fresh, on time, and accurate.
In 1978, Steve partnered with his nephew, Joel Hoekwater. Having been honored to provide trees for state capitals and governors, a milestone was reached in 1984, when a tree from their farm won a national competition and the honor of providing a tree for the White House and President Reagan and the First Lady.
Dutchman has since expanded operations beyond Christmas Trees. In 2000, Dutchman began providing larger balled and burlap landscape stock. In 2004, production in our pot in pot nursery began with trees grown for retail landscape and garden centers throughout the Midwest.
In 2004, Steve’s son-in-law, Chris Maciborski, joined Dutchman Tree Farms in anticipation of Steve’s semi-retirement. Dutchman Tree Farms, now in its second generation of family operated leadership with Joel Hoekwater and Chris Maciborski, desires to bring the long standing quality, assurance, and customer service that has been associated with Dutchman since the beginning.
Providing trees from 3 feet for small homes and apartments to bigger trees for municipalities, churches, and even a 63 foot Blue Spruce for Universal Studios, product quality is a top concern, so Dutchman offers several grades and sizes to assure customers the right tree for the right market.