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Friday, July 30, 2010 |
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4-H clubs deck the halls at local bank
Published December 11, 2009
SEGUIN — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Seguin’s Wells Fargo Bank branch.
Recently, members of 10 of the county’s 4-H clubs decorated trees in the bank’s lobby as part of the organization’s annual Christmas tree display and contest.
This year’s winners, as chosen by a group of volunteer judges, are New Berlin 4-H with St. James 4-H placing second. 4-H Shooting Sports Club’s tree was third.
Wells Fargo has hosted the contest many years — nobody associated with it Wednesday knew exactly how many.
“We’re large supporters of 4-H,” said Wells Fargo’s Diana Ratliff. “I think all of our kids have been involved with 4-H, and we really enjoy having the trees up. It looks very festive, we love having the kiddos here, and our customers just love it!”
The trees will remain on display in the bank lobby until New Year’s Day.
Laura Petty is Guadalupe County’s extension agent for 4-H and youth development. Each of the 11 years she’s been here, 4-H has decorated trees in the Wells Fargo lobby.
“Each of the clubs comes in and assembles and decorates a tree,” Petty said. “They’re asked to make their own ornaments, a tree skirt and signage that identifies them.”
The contest is open to all 11 4-H clubs and Clover Kid groups, and all but one are participating this year, Petty says.
“Wells Fargo provides the trees and hosts us with snacks,” she said.
Prizes are also provided each year for the top three entries.
Last year, the Shooting Sports club won with its tree decorated with shotgun shells, Petty said.
“That’s what their club is all about,” she said of the unusual approach of decorating with garlands made of pre-fired green and red plastic shell casings.
Even .12 gauge ornaments aren’t the most unusual ones, though. In addition to the visuals, some of the ornaments speak to other senses, Petty said.
“We’ve had teams with ornaments made out of scented dough,” she said.
Chloe Luehlfing said her Navarro 4-H club enters the contest every year. She acknowledged that Shooting Sports took the title a year ago. But the year before, she said, her group’s tree was best. Each member of the club helps make the decorations, she said, and most helped decorate the tree Wednesday evening.
“It’s one of the projects we do during our meetings,” Luehlfing said. “We just basically make anything we feel like doing. You create your own.”
Jalynn Muenich said the project helped create Christmas spirit and increased interest in the club’s meetings, which are conducted at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month in the Big Red Barn.
“It makes the meetings more interesting if you don’t have to just sit through the business part,” she said.
County Judge Mike Wiggins, who has helped judge the Christmas tree contest in the past, stopped in to look the trees over Wednesday.
The contest is a holiday function he enjoys each year, Wiggins said.
“What better way is there to enjoy the holidays than with a bunch of young kids?” Wiggins asked. “Isn’t that what it’s all about?”
The judge looked around the lobby and reflected a little before deciding that it sure was.
“You know, it seems like I had the most fun with Christmas when I was about 12 years old,” Wiggins said.
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