The 13th annual Vision of Trees was held this weekend at the Champion Community Center. The theme this year was Nebraska’s 150th birthday with a focus on Christmas memories.
    The event began on Saturday with the unveiling of 35 trees and decorated tables of memories, many handmade craft creations, bake sale items and a potato-bar with homemade cookies at lunchtime. Visitors also had an opportunity to view the five raffle prizes and purchase their tickets for the following day’s drawing.
    The Chase County Schools 9th St. Singers provided a holiday-themed song and dance program to an audience of around 200 attendees that day. Instead of their regular performance costumes, the singers wore an array of Christmas sweaters.
    No holiday event would be complete without a visit from Santa Claus. Children of all ages lined up to get their chance to sit on Santa’s lap to share their Christmas wishes and receive a sweet treat. Parents lined up, as well, to snap pictures of their smiling children or grandchildren talking to the jolly man in red.
    There were many creatively-themed trees lining the perimeter of the center’s main gathering room. The tree lights reflected on the walls and created an atmosphere of wonderment that showed on the faces of all who entered.
    Tree decorations ranged from a rustic homestead tree to a tree decorated with traditional ornaments to a contemporary style made up of all lights. Imagination knew no boundaries in the many tree designs.
    According to organizers, Sunday’s visitor attendance topped the previous day with more people looking for baked goods to purchase, a soup luncheon and the silent auction.
    Jessie Schmidt, coordinator for the Vision of Trees, presented two People’s Choice awards Sunday for the decorated trees.
    The award in the adult division went to Kelsey Steinkraus of Champion. Her tree was an imaginative design that looked like a woman’s long, formal gown. She called her creation “Say Yes to the Dress.”

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