South Summit Elementary student receives first Christmas tree permit in the country

Photo: Williams receiving his permit from the Heber-Kamas ranger district. Photo: South Summit School District

KAMAS, Utah – South Summit Elementary School student Shane Williams has received the first National Forest Christmas tree permit in the country.

Every year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issues thousands of Christmas tree permits to be distributed to forest service stations across the country. These permits grant people the authorization to harvest a Christmas tree from a forest under the jurisdiction of the issuing forest service station.

The fourth-grade student, Williams, obtained his permit from the Heber-Kamas ranger station, responsible for the management of certain areas within the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.

Luckily for Williams, this year the Heber-Kamas ranger station was issued the first Christmas tree permit in the country.

Brenda Bushell, of the Heber-Kamas Ranger Station says, “It’s neat that we got the No. 1 tag this year. The chance to get the first permit in the country is so rare.”

Permits went on sale yesterday, Nov. 6, and Williams was the first one there to obtain one.

Within the scope of the Every Kid in a Park’initiative by the USDA, fourth-grade students nationwide are granted complimentary Christmas tree permits, meaning he not only acquired the top permit but he also received it for free.