Fish River Trees, a local Christmas Tree farm, is going the extra mile this Christmas. The farm is participating in a nationwide effort called Trees for Troops. The program began in 2005, when Fed Ex and the Christmas Spirit Foundation provided 4,300 cut Christmas Trees to military families in the U.S. and overseas. This year, Trees for Troops is expecting to have over 15,000 trees donated to these families. Of these, Fish River Trees donated 160 trees last year alone and owner, Steve Mannhard, is predicting similar numbers, if not more.

In a press release, Mannhard remarked, “I support this program so strongly, because I feel that it represents the true spirit of Christmas; a spirit of giving that is always symbolized by our Christmas Trees. Now, perhaps more than ever, I feel it is critical to let our fellow soldiers and their families know that we haven’t forgotten them and appreciate their many sacrifices for our freedom.”

When asked why he decided to participate to begin with, Mannhard replied, “I know there’s a bunch of different things where people are donating for soldiers during the holidays, especially the ones over seas. So we said, ‘What can we do?’ And then FedEx, which is a great corporation, said they’d transport the trees. But it costs them a ton of money. They’re flying jets full of trees all over the world. But it definitely made me feel good. Last year, I donated and it made me feel better than anything I’ve done in years past.”

This year however, the Trees for Troops donations were temporarily overshadowed by a disturbing event. Fish River Trees rented two female reindeer for the Christmas Season for the entertainment of their customers. Early on Sunday, Dec. 1, Mannhard awoke to a gruesome discovery. The reindeer were attacked while in a fenced enclosure on the property.

When asked about the incident he said, “Something got in their pen. It was probably either wild dogs or coyotes, because there was a pretty good fight in that reindeer pen. There’s a lot of fur on the ground and everywhere, and they got a little beat up. Right now they seem to be doing okay, but if they show any further decline they’ll be taken in by the vet. Beth Taylor, a veterinarian in Magnolia Springs and friend of mine came by and took a look at them. Gave them some antibiotics and doctored them up a little bit.”

Mannhard said there were bite marks on the muzzles. One of them sustained a wound on it’s chest and the abdomen. The other had scratches around it's eye.

“One was definitely a little weaker than the other to begin with,” he said, “so I think it got hurt a little more than the other one did.

“Due to the fact that they're not dead, I think they gave as good as they got. They have natural protection that’s what the antlers are for. Pack dogs like coyotes and wolves are a natural enemy of the caribou (reindeer are domesticated caribou). That’s why we don’t want the customers reaching anywhere near the antlers, because their natural reaction is to shake their head and ward their attacker off. It’s a very quick motion and they’re very sharp.”

Both reindeer are expected to make a full recovery and be ready, with bells on, when Santa comes to pick them back up.