each year, the national christmas tree association donates a tree to the white house. fanners __1__ for the honor of providing the tree. christmas trees are grown from seeds in nurseries. after two years, the young trees are taken to farms and planted in the ground. it can __2__ up to 14 years for trees to __3__ the right height. at harvest time, farmers select and tag the trees that are big enough to be __4__ . farmers enter their best trees in statewide competitions. two winners from each state go to the __5__ competition in august.

　　　a __6__ of three judges make sure each final entry is __7__ 18 1/2 feet tall. last year, a tree in ohio was disqualified because it was a half-inch too long! judges also look to __8__ that the trees are bug-and disease-free, well-trimmed and clean.

　　　because the contest is in august, the winning tree doesn