After her family's River Ridge Tree Farm was chosen to provide the White House Christmas Tree, Amanda Estes, First Grade Teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary knew that she wanted to share this experience in some way with her students. Estes and fellow teachers decided to take Blue Ridge first graders on a trip to different sights around the county. The students then created a scrapbook which will be delivered to the White House along with the tree. The students and teachers wrote in the scrapbook, "we hope you will see that yes, Ashe County does have 'the perfect Christmas tree,' but it also boasts many interesting and perfect places to explore." The day out and scrapbook were presented by the First Grade Team, Blue Ridge Elementary School, Kristina, Shannon Bennett, Karen Calhoun, Linda Campbell, Amanda Estes, Michelle Keith, Jada Mast, Robin Staley, Judy Stallings and Martha Anne Wright. Joining the students and teachers at the 1904 Courthouse for a photo was School Superintedent Donnie Johnson, County Manager Dan McMillan, Economic Development Director Pat Mitchell, County Commissioner Judy Porter Poe, Sheriff James Williams, Curator of Ashe Museum of History Don Long, Blue Ridge Elementary Principal Rick Powers and Assistant Principal Lesia Nave.