On Wednesday, the Capitol Christmas Tree will begin its journey from the Kootenai National Forest to Washington, D.C. — with a cut from local sawyer Pete Tallmadge.

The Troy resident and third-generation logger has been selected to cut this year’s tree, a 79-foot-tall Engelmann spruce located on the Three Rivers Ranger District.

“I’m honored, privileged and a little anxious about the event,” a press release quoted Tallmadge as saying.

But mostly, he’s “happy that my kids and grandkids will be able to remember that I was a sawyer, and that they have a strong family history of working in the timber industry in Northwest Montana.”

Tallmadge brings considerable experience and a family logging background to this high-profile cut. His employer, Tallmadge Logging, was started by his father, Stan Tallmadge, in the 1960s. Since then, most of its activities have been in Lincoln County.

“We are pleased that a local sawyer agreed to cut the 2017 Capitol Christmas tree,” said Kootenai Forest Supervisor Christopher Savage. “Tallmadge comes well recommended and has decades of wood-working experience.”

Tallmadge will cut the tree Nov. 8. The cutting itself will be closed to the public for safety reasons, but drone footage will be posted to Facebook. As it heads toward the nation’s Capitol next week, the tree will make stops in Eureka, Whitefish, Libby, Troy, Trout Creek, Thompson Falls and Missoula. For a complete schedule of events, visit http://www.capitolchristmastree.com/