Aces of Trades: Christmas tree farm is family-oriented for the Imlays
BLUE ROCK – He’s a long-time florist. She’s been a barber for years. Together, Dave and Katie Imlay own and operate Circle KD Tree Farm.
“The interest in the Christmas tree farm,” Katie explained, “came when we bought the 70 acres across the road from my parents. We knew we were going to raise our blended family here and work to keep this homestead something that each of them could enjoy. The Christmas tree farm came from a belief for our future generations as well as a business venture that both of us agreed would be very family-oriented.”
Dave grew up in Zanesville, the youngest of four children. He graduated from Rosecrans and attended Ohio University in Zanesville. He now runs Imlay Florist.
“Dave’s career has been a continuation of his family-run business,” Katie noted. “Five generations strong, Imlay Florist has been a staple in the Muskingum County area for 181 years. As the oldest family-owned and family-operated florist in the United States, as 2024 is almost upon us, the family’s dedication that started in 1841 will continue.”
Katie, the second of three children, graduated from Philo High School and went on to attend the Hair Experts Barber School and Belmont Technical College to study real estate. She’s a realtor and been a barber and the owner of Katie’s Klipper for 26 years.
“My family has lived on Shaver Road all my life,” she said. “I never dreamed I would be in the Christmas tree business but marrying into the Imlay family, it seemed like a natural next step.”
They started the Circle KD Tree Farm in 2003.
“Being a business owner in a small town,” Katie said, “works directly in correlation with owning a small family farm. You get to know your clients and being a part of the family tradition of picking a Christmas tree goes hand-in-hand with the personalized service that both of us give from our other career paths.”
Circle KD, by the way, Katie said, “stands for the circle of the life of Katie and Dave.”
“The reason we work so hard at the farm,” Dave said, “is the enjoyment we see that comes from the families that spend time here with their families during the Christmas season, picking out that special Christmas tree.”
“Spending time with our family here at the farm is the greatest blessing we can receive,” Katie concluded. “We laugh with our family and your family. We make memories with our family and with your family. Our family brings joy to others as they bring the magic of Christmas to your home with a beautiful fresh cut tree. There is no greater reward.”
Circle KD Tree Farm is located at 6500 Shaver Road in Blue Rock.
Aces of Trades is a weekly series focusing on people and their jobs – whether they’re unusual jobs, fun jobs or people who take ordinary jobs and make them extraordinary. If you have a suggestion for a future profile, let us know at trnews@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Family was the motivation behind Circle KD tree farm in Blue Rock
