CULTIVATING A CAREER WITH CHRISTMAS CHEER

By Liz Craney

For Greg Smith Oregon State ’92, Christmas is the family business. Since his grandfather first broke ground on a Christmas tree farm in Oregon several decades ago, the family has been running tree farms consistently for generations. A side job meant to earn extra cash in his youth ultimately became Greg’s career. He even managed to weave the Christmas tree spirit into his Phi Psi experience along the way.

At the young age of 7, the farm first came calling, and Greg started working the land. Throughout his teen years he kept at it, working for his grandfather and then his father who took over. It wasn’t long before his own entrepreneurial spirit took hold. “By the time I hit my college years, I had my own Christmas tree farm going,” Greg said. “That’s how I paid for college — with my own Christmas trees. I graduated with zero debt because I paid as I went.”

Of course, this didn’t come without its challenges and sacrifices. As an undergraduate, Greg, dove headfirst into campus life, majoring in economics, playing intramural sports and partaking in Greek life. 

From the start, he was heavily involved with Oregon Beta chapter life. He served as the recording secretary for a year and then as president for two years. That necessitated balancing academics, Phi Kappa Psi, and work at the Christmas tree farm. “I had to take some fall semesters off, which was a bit challenging,” Greg said. “Even though I was the president of the chapter, the vice president had to run the show during the fall terms. Then, as soon as I would get done with work for the season, I’d take care of it for the next three terms.” 

Greg made sure his chapter brothers shared in the seasonal spirit as well — devising a festive fundraiser one year. “We had the entire house come out and work a day on the farm,” he said. “For each Brother’s day of work, a donation was made to the house.”

Throughout college, he entertained the idea of going to work for another company while building out his Christmas tree business in the meantime. When graduation rolled around, it made perfect sense to keep going down that (tree-lined) path. The bones of the business he’d spent a lifetime learning were well established, so it was time to take it full time. He became owner and operator of Molalla Tree Farms in Oregon. 

Life as an alumnus didn’t mean leaving the chapter and the greater brotherhood behind. Greg committed himself to continuing his involvement and service to Phi Kappa Psi. Starting with his first Grand Arch Council as an undergraduate, he became a member of the Order of the S.C., and has now attended 11 GACs. He joined the House Corporation soon after graduating and continues to serve on its board. All along, he has been instrumental to the growth and success of the chapter. 

“Our house corporation board is more than just the board taking care of the house,” he said. “We are also a chapter advisory council. We do a lot of mentorships with the undergrads and help them with recruitment.”

Through this service, he’s seen the chapter through its highest highs and lowest lows. “At one point we were down to one person in the chapter,” he said.

Faced with that reality, Greg and his two closest brothers on the board took the challenge head on and set the goal of rebuilding the chapter and the board. “We built a younger house corporation board in the late ’90s-early 2000s,” he said, “and there are three of us still that have been on the board for 20-plus years.” Now in their 50s, that group remains involved.

These fellow House Corp board members are also two of his closest friends, travel buddies, and fellow hunters and fishermen. Traveling far and wide together, the 2025 trip marks their third trip to Africa. Each year, Greg and several other chapter brothers also make time to reunite. There’s the old familiar Fantasy Football league they do together and a whiskey tasting group. And, most fittingly, for several years 30-plus fellow Oregon Beta brothers and their partners have been gathering for an annual Christmas party.

In addition to his lifelong service to Phi Kappa Psi, Greg is vice president of the Association of Oregon Christmas Tree Growers and a member of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association, where he is vice president for the state of Oregon. It’s clear that he understands the importance of actively participating in the things you care about. 

Putting in concerted effort and engagement is key advice he would give current undergraduates. “You have to put forth the effort to be involved,” he said. “If you don’t maintain relationships and contacts with your current brothers after college, you’re going to drift apart.” 

The future of his farm and Oregon Beta will overlap than you might expect. Both have plans to cultivate the younger generations, which is necessary to ensure their ongoing success. With the House Corp board, Greg is working diligently to get the younger generation of alumni from OR Beta involved. Back at the Christmas tree farm, much of the same is happening — his daughter is beginning to step into the business, ensuring a fourth generation of family farming. 

What started as a way to make some extra money as a teen, ultimately put down the roots that would grow into Greg’s lifelong career as the owner and operator of Molalla Tree Farms.  Much like his commitment to the family business, his connection to Phi Kappa Psi is one that he is stewarding for future generations.

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