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December 29, 2021

Facing a familiar challenge, Westbrook farm turns away Christmas trees

Courtesy photo Smiling Hill Farm, in Westbrook, isn't accepting Christmas trees from individuals this post-holiday season.
By Staff

For some dairy farmers in Westbrook, Maine's labor shortage has really gotten their goat.

Each post-holiday season for many years, Smiling Hill Farm has accepted donations of de-ornamented Christmas trees, which are used to feed the farm’s goats. But this year, a lack of workers has prompted Smiling Hill to turn away trees from individuals.

“Due to a staffing shortage, we are unable to accept individual trees for the goats this year,” the farm posted on social media this week. Smiling Hill is still accepting excess trees from retailers that can deliver them directly to the farm, however.

The farm, at 781 County Road, produces milk, cheese and other products on 500 acres of land. There's also a retail store and lunch counter, and the farm offers tours in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. Smiling Hill has been operated by 12 generations of the Knight family since 1720.

Neither the family nor the goats were immediately available for comment.

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