In 1964, Will Almendinger opened his first Christmas tree lot on a street corner in Robbinsdale, Minnesota to support his way through college. He named the tree lot "Willy's Wonderland" and sold cultured scotch pine, norway pine and wild balsam that he cut near his boyhood home in northern Minnesota.

Throughout the late 60's and early 70's, "Willy's Wonderland" expanded to include multiple Christmas tree lots across the northern metropolitan area. To assist with the retail operation, Will went into partnership with his brother, Russ Almendinger, and brother-in-law, Charles Edling. "Willy's Wonderland" was now a family affair.

The three partners decided to change the name of the retail lot operation to "Premium Quality Trees." They used this name until a cold December night in 1973 when an elderly lady, wanting to pay for a $10 scotch pine with a frozen pen, asked if she could make the check out to PQT. From that day forward, we would be known as PQT Company.

In 1974, Will, Russ, and Charlie incorporated PQT Company and planted their first plantation in Stacy, Minnesota. The plantation consisted of scotch, norway, white pine, and balsam fir. It was their intention to grow enough trees to supply the retail lots. A second plantation was purchased and planted the next year.

As the trees grew, they found themselves in a dilemma – they had more trees ready for market than they could sell at their retail lots. So, the three partners called on nurseries and independent retailers in the midwest to sell their excess trees. They also worked at establishing fundraising opportunities for charities, including churches, Boy Scouts and other non-profit organizations. The partners used their many years of retailing experience to help incubate these new wholesale accounts, teaching them how to display the trees and manage a profitable Christmas tree lot.

As the wholesale portion of the company started to grow, PQT Company moved into the lower level of Charlie Edling's house in 1987. The growing PQT Company used this 5 acre lot and adjoining 10 acres as their distribution center for the next 9 years, shipping trees all across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

As the company continued to grow, the need for more room became increasingly apparent. In 1996 PQT Company built an office and warehouse on 235 acres along the Rum River in Oak Grove and named this location, appropriately, Rum River Tree Farm.

Today, Rum River Tree Farm & Nursery is a full service nursery and landscaping company, offering hundreds of varieties of trees, evergreens, shrubs, annuals, perennials, roses, and landscape supplies.

The company also continues to grow Christmas trees on plantations throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. At Christmas time PQT Company operates two cut-your-own tree farms (Rum River and Hampton Hills), and approximately 20 retail lots (characterized by our "little red sheds") located throughout the Twin Cities metro area.

Although the original three owners have now retired, Will Almendinger lives on "the back 40" at Rum River Tree Farm with his wife Kathy, and remains active in the company. His son, Dan Almendinger, carries on the family business, along with several longtime and dedicated employees. 

For nearly 50 years, Rum River Tree Farm has strived to put quality first, offering premium products at a competitive price. We thank you for your past business, and hope we have the opportunity to serve you again in the future!