For some, Christmas tree farms are magical places. But that magic comes from effort, patience and luck, according to local farmers.

Roland Tokarski, owner of Ski Christmas Tree Farm in Sarver, said he's not surprised to hear from customers that some farms are struggling to stay in business.

“I've heard some farms have run out of trees,” he said. “Some of the people come up to us and tell us that some other farms have shut down or are out of business.”

Tokarski said it's a tough business, especially when a farm is just starting out. He said he would not recommend tree farming to anyone with plans to make it their only source of income.

“It's going to take eight years before you make a dime,” he said.

Tokarski said farmers also enter the business with an understanding that their product is at the mercy of nature.

“The weather has a lot to do with it,” he said.

Tokarski said even weather that some people would consider good for plants could be harmful.

“This year, there was too much rain,” he said. “It causes mildew and fungus.”

Tokarski said the appetites of hungry deer also pose threats to trees.

“When the weather gets bad, anything green, they'll start chewing it,” he said.

While there's not a lot that farmers can do about nature they have responsibilities that could lead to a healthy tree, according to Tokarski. He said most trees need to be trimmed two to three times before they are sold.

Tokarski said he's done fairly well this year.

“Actually, the trees did pretty well, except I had some run into fungus,” he said.

Marsha Renick, owner of Renick's Tree Farm in West Sunbury, said she's been lucky too, having no issues so far in this year's yield. But, she knows the risks of the industry too, and she has also heard of issues with some other farmers this year.

“There is a tree shortage,” Renick said. “Drought, too much rain and late frost can really hurt.”

But Renick said a tree farmer needs to have a strong business sense and a good personality to bring in repeat customers each season.

The tree farm has been in her family since her grandfather started it nearly 60 years ago. She said initially it was her grandfather's spirit and his prices that brought the customers to their farm.

Sutara remembers him.

“I always went with him to get a big tree,” Tom Sutara said. “He was so entertaining.”

Sutara and his wife, Debbie, of Natrona Heights braved the cold last week to buy their tree, and Renick's is their favorite place to go. This year, they stayed in the yard, where the pre-cut trees lay near a couple of bailing machines. Those machines are what originally brought Tom to Renick's the first time, around 30 years ago.

“Initially this was the only place you could go where they bail the tree,” Tom said.

Debbie Sutara said this year they saw a lot of good pre-cut trees.

“She has a lot in the yard that are big ones,” she said. “Normally we go out and cut one down.”

The couple built their own home with a 15-foot peak in their family room and found that the high ceiling made smaller trees look insignificant.

“That's why we need a big one,”

Debbie Sutara said she also prefers a Frasier Fir to most other types of trees, and Renick's has plenty.

“We like a Frasier Fir because it's a softer needle,” she said.

“It doesn't beat you up,” Tom Sutara said.

Renick said tradition is strong selling point for buying a Christmas tree. She said many families will make a day of it, some coming even from other states.

But, what really draws people to her location for repeat business is her personality and her friendliness.

“I love talking to everybody,” she said. “I could stand here and talk to people all day.”

Renick said she followed in the footsteps of a man who proved that business could be done that way.

“(My grandfather) was always, always loyal to his customers,” she said.