Feed bags, German flags and name tags were but a few of the unusual ornaments placed on Christmas trees in a decorating party on Thursday night in Shawville.
The event was part of the Tinsel and Tidings fundraiser auction, put on by the Pontiac Agricultural Society for the second year in a row as a way to raise money for community organizations.
Teams from local businesses and community groups gathered at the Shawville Fairgrounds’ homecraft building on Thursday night to decorate their trees. On Friday and Saturday, a panel of judges selected the top three trees for which decorators would win prizes, and on Saturday, the final day, members of the public came to place a bid on a tree in the hopes of taking it home for the holidays.
Co-organizer Nancy Tubman said she had seen similar events in other communities, so last year decided to try one in Shawville. The event was so successful, she decided to do it again.
“We were just astounded with the donations, and the trees that sold and the prices they got,” she said, regarding last year’s event.
This year, she said it’s the same routine, but there are more and different people entering the competition. “It’s nice to see everybody so excited,” Tubman said.
There were entries from 12 community associations in the Shawville area. At the end of Saturday, the top-selling trees belonged to M&R Feeds and the Shawville Fair, which brought in $225 each.
The awards for the top three trees were given to the Shawville 4-H Club, Cartrites restaurant, and the Bristol Community Association.
“Each organization won a bag of stuff,” said Tubman, who said the official tally of money raised will be presented later this week to the benefitting organization.
According to Mavis Hanna of the Pontiac Agricultural Society, the final proceeds will be split evenly between the Angel Tree and the Snowsuit Fund.
