It’s just barely Halloween, but this year’s holiday preparations have already begun.

This week it was reported that the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree was felled from Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota and began its cross-country trek to Washington, DC, with help from the Minnesota Trucking Association.

MTA is one of a dozen partners helping to transport the 88-foot tall white spruce on its 2,000-mile tour to the west lawn of the Capitol, where it is scheduled to arrive on Friday, November 21 in advance of the official lighting ceremony on December 2. The association said it is delighted to participate in the 50-year-old tradition, especially as a way to demonstrate the importance and value of the trucking industry.

“This is a great opportunity to show people how essential the trucking industry is,” MTA President John Hausladen said in a statement. “Hauling this tree is just one example of what trucking does for America.”

Hausladen worked with other organizing groups to help plan the trip’s logistics, which includes stops for 30 community celebrations along the way.

In addition to helping coordinate the trip, MTA provided $5,000 toward the tree’s transportation costs and is contributing to a school curriculum teaching kids about the Minnesota tree industry, the importance of the trucking industry, and the history of the Christmas tree. One of the association’s members, fleet mobility technology provider PeopleNet, is also providing an online platform that allows the public to track the tree along its journey.

Also being hauled to DC are 10,000 ornaments made by Minnesota children and community members. The ornaments will adorn the Capitol tree, as well as 70 companion trees, provided by the Minnesota Christmas Tree Growers Association, that will decorate the inside of the Capitol and other DC locations.

(Alex Wong/Getty Images)