Dubois County Festival of Trees Winners and Community Impact 2026

1. Festival overview and announcement

The Dubois County Museum announced winners of the 2025 Festival of Trees tree-decorating contest on January 5, 2026, after a season of displays that engaged communities across the county. Decorations were placed throughout the museum’s exhibits to visually tie local history and community identity to the holiday season. The public-facing announcement formalized awards while also underscoring the museum’s role as a civic gathering place.

2. Scale of participation: 52 trees and broad county representation

Fifty-two trees were decorated across the museum’s exhibits this year, a scale that demonstrates strong local engagement and provides a wide range of cultural and thematic representations. Each tree acted as a mini-exhibit, allowing communities and organizations from different towns to show local history, services and values. For residents, the scope meant more opportunities to see familiar places, groups and people represented, and to feel included in a county-wide conversation.

3. Nonprofits, service clubs and volunteer labor

Seventeen non-profits and service clubs participated, reflecting how civic groups use cultural events to maintain visibility and build social capital. Most decorations were volunteer-created, which highlights both the strengths of civic volunteerism and the resource constraints many organizations face when staging public displays. The heavy reliance on volunteer labor signals a need for sustained community support and consideration of equitable resources for smaller or underfunded organizations.

4. Professional florists and resource disparities

Two of the trees were decorated by professional florists while the remainder were volunteer efforts, a fact that illuminates disparities in time, funds and professional access among participating groups. Professionally decorated trees can raise the visual bar and attract visitors, but they also point to inequities where organizations with budgets or business connections can mount more elaborate displays. Acknowledging this can guide future planning so all groups can have equitable presentation opportunities.

5. Coordinators who made it happen

Coordinators Clara Fromme, Kathy Bachman, Marcia Werne and Joe Schoenbachler facilitated the competition and display logistics, an often-unseen labor that keeps community events running. Their work tied together museum staff, community groups and volunteers, showing how coordination capacity is essential to inclusive public programming. Recognizing coordinators signals the need to support such administrative roles as part of public funding and nonprofit sustainability.

6. First-place tie: Ferdinand Flower Shop (large pink and white floral tree)

One of the first-place winners was Ferdinand Flower Shop, which entered a large tree decorated with pink and white flowers that showcased local craft and aesthetic tradition. As a florist-business entry, it combined professional skill with community identity, drawing attention to local small businesses’ contributions to civic life. For residents, the floral tree was both a visual highlight and a reminder of how local commerce and community events can mutually reinforce one another.

7. First-place tie: Ireland tree decorated by Angie Rudolph (cameras, slides, photos)

Sharing first place was the Ireland-themed tree, decorated by Angie Rudolph and featuring cameras, slides and photos, elements that celebrated visual memory and local storytelling. That entry connected personal and communal histories, using imagery to invite viewers to reflect on county life and shared experience. Such creative approaches support cultural health by making memory and belonging visible in a public space.

8. Third place: Celestine’s Salute to Volunteer Firemen decorated by Ericka Verkamp

Third place went to Celestine’s Salute to Volunteer Firemen, decorated by Ericka Verkamp, a tribute that recognized essential local public safety workers who are often volunteers. Honoring volunteer firefighters highlights the intersection of civic pride and public health infrastructure, these volunteers protect lives and property and are a backbone of rural emergency response. The entry also offers a moment to consider volunteer recruitment, mental health supports for first responders and how communities value these roles.

9. Fourth place: ALASI

ALASI placed fourth in the contest, representing one of the participating organizations whose presence in the museum amplifies underrepresented voices and service missions. Their participation demonstrates how nonprofits leverage cultural events to raise awareness and build cross-community relationships. Visibility in such a public program can translate into increased community support and potential collaboration with health and human services agencies.

10. Fifth place: Military Tree honoring service members

The Military Tree took fifth place, a focused tribute to veterans and active service members that connects civic recognition with family and community well-being. Honoring military service in public exhibits can contribute to community cohesion and signal local awareness of veteran health needs and reintegration supports. For families and service members in Dubois County, the display served as both recognition and a reminder of ongoing service-related health and social needs.

11. Display schedule and takedown logistics

Trees remained on display through January 10, 2026, providing nearly a month of public viewing for residents and visitors to engage with the themes and nonprofits represented. Volunteers were scheduled to begin takedown on January 11, which underscores the ongoing volunteer labor required even after the public-facing event concludes. Thinking ahead about takedown support and materials reuse can reduce waste and lessen the burden on community volunteers.

12. Public health, equity and next steps for community support

Events like the Festival of Trees contribute to mental and social well-being by fostering belonging, reducing isolation and supporting cultural expression, especially important in rural counties where social venues can be limited. To build equity, consider how funding, training and material support can help smaller nonprofits and volunteer groups present at the same level as businesses that can hire professionals. You can support future festivals by volunteering, advocating for public funding of community arts, and engaging with the museum and local nonprofits to ensure broader, more equitable participation.