Iris Jasperson is addicted to Hallmark movies – especially holiday movies.
She likes the idea of a hometown Christmas, with tree lighting ceremonies, holiday bazaars, Christmas music playing in the streets.

So, opening the Star Valley Christmas Company just seemed like a natural fit.
“I like hometown, homemade Christmas stuff,” she said. “We opened last year and had 13 different kinds of trees. It was a lot of fun to have all those different kinds of trees and to talk with the families who came to look at the trees. It was just fun to have something really Christmassy.”

The trees are just now being cut.

“We wanted them to be as fresh as they could be,” said Jasperson. “This year it was a bit tricky to get trees because of all of the fires. Lots of the tree farms were not sure what they would have when I checked with them in August and September. But I found a tree farm based out of St. Maries, Idaho. It’s called the Forever Green Trees Farm and that is where we are getting our trees this year.”

“We will have 50 trees,” Jasperson continued. “We will have Grand Fir, Norway Spruce and Colorado Blue Spruce. The trees will be anywhere from five to 12 feet. We are excited for the trees to arrive and hope people will come out and take a look at what we have.”

In addition to Christmas trees, the Star Valley Christmas Company also features the Christmas Shop. The shop showcases homemade table runners, homemade candies, pillow cases and tree skirts.

“Eventually we would like to grow to include a Christmas Village and Santa’s Workshop,” said Jasperson. “But right now we have the Christmas Shop and a Christmas Tree lot.”

According to Jasperson, the important thing to do during the holiday season is take time to find joy.

“You’ve got to slow down in life and enjoy the little things,” she said. “We tend to get so busy during the holidays that we don’t spend any time sitting and watching the snow fall or talk to friends and family or spend time together. That is not what this time of year is about. This time of year is a celebration of joy.”

“My whole goal is to get people to slow down for the season and enjoy a hometown Christmas,” Jasperson added.

The Star Valley Christmas Company will be open Thursday through Saturday from 1-6 p.m. and by appointment.

To make an appointment, contact Iris Jasperson at 885-2643.
Santa will visit the Star Valley Christmas Company on Saturday, Dec. 2. Friends and family are invited to visit with Jolly Ole’ St. Nicholas beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 9 the Star Valley Christmas Company will host a snowman building contest.

“We want families to come out and just play in the snow,” said Jasperson.
The Star Valley Christmas Company is located at 448 Bowles Lane in Smoot, approximately three miles south of Gardner’s Country Village. It is on the west side of U.S. Highway 89.

The Star Valley Christmas Company provided the following tips for caring for your Christmas Tree.
Tips for Tree Care at Home
• If you are not going to set up your tree right away, store the tree in water if possible and out of the sun and wind.
• Make a fresh cut off the bottom of the trunk one half inch from the bottom just before putting the tree in the stand. Keep the tree stand full of water at all times, checking the level daily.
• The stand you use should hold at least one quart of water for every inch diameter of the trunk after the tree is in the stand.
• Place the Christmas Tree well away from heat registers, space heaters, fire places, wood stoves, televisions, computer monitors and other heat sources. These will speed up evaporation and moisture loss of the tree.