North Carolina farm continues holiday spirit supplying Easter eggs to White House

North Carolina agriculture just can’t help getting involved in national holiday events.

First it was turkeys. Then a tree. This time, Braswell Family Farms in Nashville, is supplying 30,000 eggs — 20,000 will be dyed — for the White House Easter Egg Roll Monday.

Every year, since 1878, children gathered on the South Lawn of the White House and used wooden spoons to roll colorful eggs across the lawn.

How did this tradition start? Well, originally children gathered on Capitol Hill every Easter Monday to participate in the tradition, but Congress, being Congress, took note that the activity was damaging the Capitol lawn, according to the National Park Service. So lawmakers took it upon themselves in 1876 to pass the Turf Protection Law, making it illegal for children to continue.

Thankfully, President Rutherford B. Hayes was not a fun-sucker like the suits on the Hill and told the children of Washington they were welcome on the White House lawn. The Easter Egg Roll has continued annually ever since.

This is the second year in a row that Braswell Family Farms provided eggs to the White House; it also provided eggs in previous years. Trey Braswell, president of his family farm, acknowledged in an interview with The Washington Post that due to the national egg shortage that caused egg prices to soar this year, the White House’s request for a 30,000 egg donation was a big ask. But he told the Post, “We look at it as an opportunity to do our civic duty. We do it joyfully and gladly.”

The eggs were sent to The Stocked Pot, in Lewisville, to be boiled and dyed. The Stocked Pot was given five Pantone color codes to match the egg dye to. The Washington Post reported the colors as neon pink, green, orange, royal blue and aqua.

“It’s great to see North Carolina continue to be represented so well by strong, family-run businesses like Braswell Family Farms and The Stocked Pot,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “We know they’ll make sure this special event is a success where everyone has a hopping good time!”

Once dyed, the eggs will travel to Washington, D.C., where children will be greeted by celebrities, including Halle Bailey, star of the upcoming Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and characters from “Bluey,” “Winnie the Pooh,” “Sesame Street,” “Paw Patrol” and “Snoopy.”

First lady Jill Biden announced earlier this week that the theme of this year’s roll is “Eggucation.” The South Lawn and the Ellipse will be transformed into a school-like atmosphere with a reading nook, a field trip to the farm, picture day in front of the White House, an obstacle course for physical education, a talent show and a snack tent. There will also be an Easter egg hunt with special prizes.

NASA sent astronauts at the International Space Station a wooden Official White House Easter Egg to allow them to demonstrate weightlessness in space. Videos will be posted to the White House social media pages.

White House officials invited service members and veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors to the event. The public was also able to get tickets through an online lottery system.

North Carolina has participated in most of D.C.’s holidays in the past 12 months, including supplying the turkeys, Chocolate and Chip, to be pardoned by President Joe Biden at Thanksgiving and the Capitol Christmas Tree named “Ruby.”