Steve Easton Sr., 85, of Canfield, hunts for the perfect tree for his home at Stepuk Tree Farm on Thursday. He eventually settled on a Canaan fir, which his son, Chris, also chose for his home.

CANFIELD — Chris Easton and his family left Saturday for a weeklong cruise to the Bahamas, though their initial stop was their home to make a significant pre-Christmas delivery.

“For Christmas Eve, we’re always at my parents’ house. We do Christmas morning at our home and Christmas afternoon at my in-laws,” the Austintown resident said.

Before embarking on their trip — and perhaps what will be a temporary escape from early winter weather — Easton and his sons, Scott, 15, and Steven, 20, made a visit Thursday to Stepuk Tree Farm, 10700 Washingtonville Road, to select a family Christmas tree.

Joining the trio in the large tree field was Chris’ father, Steve Easton Sr., 85, of Canfield.

With assistance from his sons, Chris used a chainsaw to cut a 6-foot, 4-inch fir variety for themselves, then a second one for Easton Sr.

Nearly every year, the Easton family buys a blue spruce or a Canaan fir for Christmas, Chris said, adding that a virtue of a Canaan variety is its narrow branches and smaller trunk.

At the tree farm Thursday, people of many ages selected a variety of trees from the vast field or those that had been pre-cut. Tree types also included white pines, Norway spruces and Scotch pines; in addition, small, medium and large decorative wreaths were available.

Also among those on the hunt for the ideal tree were Dennis Malloy Sr. and his wife, Kathy, of Youngstown, who opted for a Fraser fir Christmas tree.

“It’s short and has soft needles, and is easier to decorate,” he observed. “It also stays healthier longer.”

Dennis and Kathy intend to celebrate Christmas in a traditional manner via spending time at their daughter’s home, though their travels will be short because she lives one block from them, Dennis continued.

“It’s just mostly about family, and at our age, we like to stay close,” he added.

Dennis and Kathy also are the parents of newly elected Republican Trumbull County Commissioner Denny Malloy.

Mark Stepuk, who co-owns the tree farm with several family members, said the weather has been optimal since the business got underway shortly before Thanksgiving. A recent Sunday “was one of the busiest days we’ve had,” he added.

Even though sales were up an estimated 20 percent since 2020 and the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Stepuk Tree Farm, like many similar businesses, is dealing with a tree shortage that will affect how long it’s able to stay open this year. Nevertheless, after the field portion of the business closes, pre-cut trees will remain available, he noted.

“As long as we have pre-cut trees and greenery, we will stay open,” Stepuk said.

Paradoxically, the pandemic helped sales of Christmas trees largely because many people celebrated the holidays at home, with an added emphasis on upholding traditions such as live trees, he added.