Cutting down the perfect Christmas tree is truly a family affair. For Matt Boecke, it's a tradition that started 12 years ago.

He and his family are lucky enough to live next door to Molyneaux's Plantation, one of the oldest Christmas tree farms in the region.

"When it comes to Christmas, there's nothing better than tradition and family. When you think about what it really embodies, it's the holiday season. It's the holiday spirit," said Matt Boecke, a Broome County resident.

His children eagerly watched on as dad sawed it down, although this year's tree was a bit stubborn.

"This one is just too hard. It's like a big bear," said Boecke.

But the Boecke family wasn't giving up. After a few minutes of sawing, and maybe a bit of a Christmas miracle, the tree finally came down.

Gene Molyneaux, the owner of the plantation, has watched families build these memories for decades.

"We've had families coming for 40 years, the same families that through progression, they bring their kids and they bring their kids, and before you know it, you have the whole family," said Molyneaux.

And Molyneaux has seen thousands of families just like the Boeckes bring his trees into their homes.

Families return year after year, in part to carry on tradition, but also to shop local.

"Without small businesses, you really don't get that intimate exposure to other people, and Christmas is kind of commercialized, and doing things like this really brings it back to its roots," said Boecke.