Hensler’s Nursery Participates in Trees for Troops Program

Posted on Author WKVI

Hensler’s Nursery was one of five Indiana Tree Farms that participated in the Trees for Troops program this week.

Volunteers collected, prepared and loaded hundreds of donated trees onto FedEx trucks that will be delivered to bases in Kuwait and Afghanistan. The effort was completed at Dull’s Tree Farm in Thorntown.

The Trees for Troops program is part of FedEx Special Delivery, a nationwide program that provides transportation and logistical assistance for community and non-profit organizations. This year over 18,000 trees will be delivered to more than 60 military bases in the U.S. and overseas.

Starke County Historical Society Museum Closes for Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Museum Christmas Tree
Starke County Museum Christmas Tree

The Starke County Historical Museum will be closed today through January 31st, for maintenance and repair.

Also, when you drive by the museum, you are urged to admire the Memorial Tree donated by Hensler’s Nursery. A record number of memorial bows and names have been attached this year. Toni Snearly, Historical Society volunteer, said that 285 bows have been placed on the tree at 401 South Main St., in Knox.

Two Christmas Trees Headed to Statehouse from Hensler’s Nursery

Posted on Author WKVI
Kankakee Valley REMC workers help prepare the tree for the Statehouse. Photo provided by Kankakee Valley REMC

The Christmas trees for the Indiana Capitol have been cut and they’re ready for transport from Hensler’s Nursery in Hamlet.

Last week, a 25 foot Concolor Fir was cut for the Indiana Statehouse Rotunda. Also cut was an eight foot Fraser Fir for the Lt. Governor’s office.

Crew members from the Kankakee Valley REMC in Wanatah helped with the cutting.

Hensler Nursery Donates Concolor Fir to Statehouse Rotunda

Posted on Author WKVI

Tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT, Hensler Nursery will be cutting the 25-foot Concolor Fir for the Indiana Statehouse Rotunda. The Rotunda tree will be cut with the assistance of the Kankakee Valley REMC crew members from Wanatah.

The Rotunda tree will be loaded and will reside at Hensler Nursery over the weekend. Presentation at the Indiana Statehouse will take place Monday, December 12.

Additionally, besides the Rotunda Concolor Fir, Hensler Nursery will be providing the Lt. Governor’s office with an eight-foot Fraser Fir. Both of these Starke County grown trees will grace the Statehouse during December, bringing fresh, fragrant, Northern-Indiana-grown Christmas trees to Indiana’s capitol.

Giant Pumpkin Drop at Hensler’s!

Posted on Author WKVI
These are two of the pumpkins that will be featured during today's pumpkin drop!

The WKVI Giant Pumpkin Drop is today from Noon-2:00 p.m. CT at Hensler Nursery in Hamlet.

Two giant pumpkins will be dropped from a crane. One pumpkin weighs 700 pounds and a 1,100 pound pumpkin will be dropped onto a panel van! Smaller pumpkins will be launched out of a cannon by the Fahrfunflinger group out of Illinois. There could be a 1,200 pound watermelon dropped as well.

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John Hensler Speaks to M.O.P.S. Group

Posted on Author WKVI
John Hensler speaks to the M.O.P.S. group

The Mothers of Pre-Schoolers, known as M.O.P.S., was honored to have John Hensler from Hensler’s Nursery as their guest speaker this month. John Hensler told the M.O.P.S. group about each of the Christmas tree varieties and what it takes to grow a Christmas tree from seed to harvest. John also talked about the upcoming events, including the Pumpkin Drop, Fall Festival, and Christmas activities.

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Classic Cruise-in this Sunday at Hensler’s Nursery

Posted on Author WKVI

Hensler Nursery’s Annual Classic Car Cruise-In will be held this Sunday, October 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CT. Last year’s Cruise-In featured over 60 cars. The show is open to all vehicles and there will be no gate or admission charges. The Award Presentation is at 2:00, dash plaques will be given to the first 100 entries and other door prizes will be awarded.

Hensler’s “Fall! All over the Place” continues concurrently with horse rides to the pumpkin patch. Both the Christmas Barn and the Fall Decorating Barn will be open. Pumpkins, gourds, straw, and mums are available in the yard. Food service includes pulled pork sandwiches, beef sandwiches, assorted cakes, apple dumplings, and….a possibility of Hensler’s home made vanilla and pumpkin ice cream!

Giant Pumpkin Breaks State Record

Posted on Author WKVI
John Barenie's 1,308 pound pumpkin

Hensler’s Nursery in Hamlet had its Fourth Annual Giant Pumpkin Growers Contest on Saturday.

John Barenie of Griffith, Indiana, was the contest winner with a pumpkin weighing in at 1,308 pounds. He is now the Indiana state record holder. Barenie’s pumpkin beat the previous state record of 1,273 pounds, held by Roger Howard, of Grovertown, since 2005. Don Young, of Des Moines, Iowa, came in second with a 1,159.5 pound pumpkin and Julie Young, of Des Moines, was in third place with a pumpkin weighing 924.5 pounds.

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