COLOGNE, Minn. (WCCO) – It doesn’t get any more authentic than cutting down your favorite Christmas tree by hand.

You can do just that at Z’s Tree’s in Cologne.

“I think it’s historical, their parents remember doing that, cutting their own Christmas tree,” John Zimmerman said, who puts the Z in Z’s Trees.

A large animal veterinarian during the week, he’s been selling Christmas trees for the last 13 years.

“I always liked growing things, and I didn’t want to grow corn and beans and alfalfa,” Zimmerman said.

So he picked Christmas trees. All kinds of them.

To be honest, it can be a little overwhelming, which is why John gives people a chance to get out here early to call dibs.

“One of the things that makes us unique is the pre-tagging concept,” he said. “People can come out here in October, and spend an afternoon in October, when the sun is shining and take their time and select the perfect Christmas tree.”

But it’s more than the trees. There are wagon rides, cookies baked on an old wood stove, plus some familiar holiday faces.

“Santa Claus is the big draw because this is the authentic Santa Claus,” he said.

Z’s Trees is only open Saturday and Sundays and just for two more weekends.