There's time and opportunity for lots of Wyoming folks to get involved in the selection of a U.S. Capitol Christmas tree for 2010.

U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Rick Cables said Wyoming should have a lot of fun in the process, judging by his experience when Colorado supplied the Christmas tree in 2000.

"We had school kids making ornaments and former Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who owns an 18-wheeler, driving the tree across country," Cables said.

U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., announced last week Wyoming for the first time would supply the official Capitol Christmas tree in 2010.

Because Wyoming has lots of trees in its forests, there's time for the Forest Service and the state forester to brainstorm on a selection process, Cables said. The key, he said, is to find opportunities for federal, state and local partnerships.

For example, in 1990, the community of Walden, Colo., was celebrating the town's centennial, and the Capitol Christmas tree came from the nearby Routt National Forest.

"We look for opportunities to connect with local celebrations or commemorations," said Mary Ann Chambers, a Forest Services spokeswoman based in Fort Collins, Colo. She was involved in the Walden tree selection process.

Cables said the Forest Service and state forester will likely talk to federal, state and local people who want to nominate specific trees for the honor. Ultimately, the Capitol architect will come out to Wyoming and select a tree and a couple of backup trees for insurance.

Cables acknowledged the hazards of insect infestation and wildfire, "but I can guarantee that Wyoming will have a tree in Washington, D.C., in 2010."

Chambers said the final selection process in the summer of 2010, followed by cutting it and shipping it to the nation's capital, will be such a short time frame that there's no need to worry.

Both she and Cables speculated that the Wyoming 2010 tree will be either an Engelmann spruce or a subalpine fir for a classic Christmas tree shape and fullness.

State Forester Bill Crapser said he's looking forward to the selection process and nominations from around the state. He did note that Wyoming has indeed sent a big Christmas tree to Washington, D.C.

"I've been getting phone calls from some retirees, and they tell me Wyoming sent what was called a national Christmas tree in 1972. National trees were set up at the opposite end of the Mall. That program apparently ended in the late '70s," Crapser said.