Cracon continues to acquire and plant thousands of trees annually to ensure a constant supply of quality trees. with customers ranging from Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, and Home Depot to the small independent retailer. From 2002 to the present time, Cracon has become one of the largest wholesalers of Christmas trees in the U.S. The farm eventually was sold in 1997 to a large wholesale nursery with Conrad staying on for five years as general manager. Throughout the 80’s, Happy Holiday’s retail business continued to expand and the farm (incorporating in 1986 as Cracon, Inc., and adding Jody Wilkes as a partner) became a major player in the Midwest. It was in 1981 that Happy Holiday began its Christmas tree growing division in Michigan by acquiring land and trees as well as planting in excess of 100,000 seedlings annually. It became a full-time career in 1981 as Happy Holiday grew from a single lot to multiple locations with the addition of their brother Casey as a major influence. Happy Holiday Christmas Trees started in South Florida in 1971, beginning strictly as a part-time venture by Conrad and Craig Steinhart.
