Michigan State University's Bert Cregg named to Christmas Tree Growers Hall of Fame
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EmailBert Cregg has been inducted into the Michigan Christmas Tree Association's Hall of Fame for his outstanding service, research and dedication to advancing Michigan’s Christmas tree industry.
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Bert Cregg, PhD, a Michigan State University Extension specialist and professor in the Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry, was inducted into the Michigan Christmas Tree Association (MCTA) Growers Hall of Fame at the Michigan Christmas Tree Association's National Summer Meeting, held July 24-26, 2025. Cregg was recognized for his lifetime of service and contributions to Michigan's Christmas tree industry.
Cregg has worked for Michigan State University (MSU) for more than 26 years and is recognized as an international expert in the field of Christmas tree production. He shares his knowledge and passion for Christmas trees as a speaker for state, national and international Christmas tree meetings.
“I am truly humbled and honored by the Hall of Fame recognition by the MCTA,” Cregg said. “I am grateful to the MCTA and its members for their support throughout my tenure at MSU. Much of our research work is based on on-farm trials and I don’t think I’ve ever had a grower say ‘no’ to installing test plots, even though I tell them we might lose a few trees along the way! But they are always willing to learn and help move the industry forward. I’ve had great support from Amy Start, MCTA’s executive director, as we’ve navigated various grant programs to support our research and extension efforts. I’ve been fortunate to have great Extension educators to work with, first Jill O’Donnell and now Bill Lindberg. I’m especially thankful for my research technician, Riley Johnson, who somehow keeps track of all our projects. Lastly, thanks to my wife, Terri, and our daughter, Hannah, for putting up with a tree guy all these years.”
Cregg’s first job was shearing Christmas trees at 16 while working in Washington State, where he grew up. His enthusiasm for Christmas trees, and all trees, has been with him since a young age. His education reflects his passion for learning and curiosity to make things better for trees: how to take care of them, improve them, learn from them, and share that information with others. Cregg started at MSU in 1999 studying Christmas trees and has continued with research that has strengthened the industry.
“Bert is a fantastic example of an Extension faculty member,” Rich Kobe, chairperson of the Department of Forestry at MSU, said. “He collaborates with the Christmas tree industry to identify questions of concern and conducts rigorous research to get answers to those questions. He is dedicated to ensuring that research has impact through his interactions with growers, numerous presentations, and regular articles in the Great Lakes Christmas Tree Journal. I am delighted that Bert has been recognized by the MCTA with this highest honor.”
Cregg has been the lead researcher and collaborated with the MCTA on many U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grants. Over the years, Cregg has brought in hundreds of thousands of research dollars to better the industry. He also collaborates with educators across the country and around the world on issues related to Christmas tree production. His latest collaborative project, “A Gift Seed,” with Justin Whitehill, PhD, of North Carolina State University and other researchers, is a tree improvement effort to enhance fir tree genetics.
“Dr. Cregg is truly a unicorn in the Christmas tree industry,” Amy Start, executive director of the MCTA, said. “Very few possess his level of knowledge when it comes to trees. He excels at taking complex topics and making them easily understandable. I've had the pleasure of working with Dr. Cregg for the past eight years, and he's consistently positive, relatable and possesses a keen eye for detail. He's always willing to share his knowledge and do whatever it takes to better the industry.”
Cregg is a trusted advisor to the MCTA. He plays an integral role in the Association’s planning process and brings a wealth of experience and information about the industry at large. He works closely with the MCTA’s Board of Directors on educational programming, as well as editorial content for the Great Lakes Christmas Tree Journal that is distributed to 12 states and Ontario.
Tony Stefani, president of the MCTA, reflected on Cregg’s influence on both his personal journey as a grower and the broader Christmas tree industry.
“I can still remember the first time I met Bert—it was at an Exotic Conifer Association meeting in 2011,” Stefani said. “At the time, I was just beginning to get more involved in my family’s Christmas tree farm and had no idea how large and connected this industry really was. My dad was pointing out who the attendees were, and Bert was there to speak about exotic conifers.”
Since then, Stefani said that Cregg’s work has directly influenced his farm operations. From post-harvest care and soil nutrition to transplant survivability and species selection, Stefani credits Cregg’s research articles, webinars and videos as valuable and insightful resources that have shaped how he grows and markets trees.
“As a board member, I’ve seen how Bert’s leadership, guidance and insight has helped make Michigan one of the leading regions growers turn to for information on Christmas tree production,” Stefani added. “It would be hard to find a grower who hasn’t benefited from a resource that included Bert’s input. Bert Cregg is truly deserving of his induction into the MCTA Hall of Fame, and I’m lucky to have gotten to know him personally.”
Helping celebrate his many accomplishments at the National Summer Meeting were his wife, Terri, Michigan State University and MSU Extension colleagues, and many industry friends. The two-day meeting was hosted by Dutchman Tree Farms at their Northern Pines Nursery in Lake City, Michigan, with more than 900 in attendance.
Terri said they cannot go anywhere without stopping to take pictures of trees that are different, in distress, beautiful or something he can share with others about what issue is going on with the trees. Terri added, “During the holidays, we are always excited to go to a choose-and-cut farm to get our Christmas tree with our family and share in that tradition with others. Bert is a local celebrity at Christmastime on the news, sharing all the tips on Christmas tree care, selection and the beauty of having a real tree.”
Cregg was inducted into the MCTA Growers Hall of Fame alongside long-time Christmas tree grower and owner of Dutchman Tree Farms, Joel Hoekwater. Cregg and Hoekwater have been recognized for their lifetime of service to Michigan’s Christmas tree industry. Both Cregg and Hoekwater’s commitment and service are tremendously appreciated by the MCTA and Michigan’s Christmas tree growers.
