I90 Holiday Light Enhancement
Donation protected
Help continue the tradition!
For over 25 years the likes of Barney, Joseph and Mary, Mr Potato Head and Santa to name a few have drawn the attention of weary travelers, long haul truckers and families driving across the State of Washington on I-90. The Quincy Valley Country Christmas Holiday Light Display lines a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 90 running east from the town of George, WA. The light displays are put up a few days before Thanksgiving and are kept up until New Years Eve.
Over time, weather and aging equipment has taken a toll on the 22 displays and they are in need of some love. To keep this tradition going we are in need of some funds to update these wonderful displays.
Please consider a one-time donation to this worthy cause and help to allow us to carry on this tradition for another 20 years and bring smiles and holiday cheer to the next generation who travels through our area.
Thank you for your consideration,
Pete Romano, Lisa Karstetter and Scott Lybbert
FAQ
Where will my donation go?
· 22 displays need some form of renovation.
· Most need welding repairs some need new steel and more extensive repairs then others.
· They all need new lights (changing them to LED lights would be brighter and more energy efficient)
· There are a few displays that are still waiting to be finished (one being a military display).
Who pays to power them?
· The farmers that own the circles in the fields in which they are placed have and will continue to pay to power them.
What account does the money go to?
· The money will go into the AgFARMation account at Key Bank. AgFARMation is a 501c3 organization. Monies will only be used for light displays.
Cost?
· The average cost is around $700 a display to convert old strands to LED and re-weld the displays to make them strong enough for transport and to withstand the winds and adverse weather we get in December.
· We are hoping to get funding to do 10-12 this year and then the rest next year.
· Quincy Rotary Club has committed to matching up to the first $2,000.
I-90 Holiday Light History
- Mid 1980’s: Scott Lybbert, a creative local citizen, strung a single strand of holiday lights, in the shape of a star, and they are hung between the steel “rabbit ears” of an irrigation pivot setting dormant for the winter. Next came a life-size Santa Clause and Reindeer display, made from worn out farm parts, which was mounted atop the roof of potato storage along State Highway 283 (between George and Ephrata, Washington). Over the next few years an additional 4 displays are added along Highway 283.
- Early 1990’s: The displays are moved to Interstate 90 so more people can enjoy them. Each year, additional displays are built and mounted along neighboring farmer’s fields, approximately every half-mile, on both sides of the freeway, along a 10-mile stretch. Each fall, after the irrigation water is turned off, farmers move their pivots and park them along the freeway, so they can provide electricity to power what is now 22 displays. (Farmers pick up the cost to power these during the holidays) . Throughout the ‘90’s neighboring farmers and businesses donated steel and Christmas lights for the project.
- Early 2000’s: The I-90 holiday displays become a community event. The non-profit AgFARMation organization takes over fund raising for the project and Quincy Farm Chemical employees (now The McGregor Company) begins custom building two-wheeled trailers to mount the displays to for easy mobilization. Quincy Farm Chemicals takes over the storing and mobilizing of the giant 2-wheeled displays and additional community individuals and families pitch in to assist.
- Early 2010’s: The Quincy based McGregor Company has a couple of employees who continue to do basic upkeep and manage getting the displays out each year but the displays need some major overhauls which will require more man power and additional funds.
Link to story on lights:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/dec/24/lighted-displays-help-christmas-come-to-life/
For over 25 years the likes of Barney, Joseph and Mary, Mr Potato Head and Santa to name a few have drawn the attention of weary travelers, long haul truckers and families driving across the State of Washington on I-90. The Quincy Valley Country Christmas Holiday Light Display lines a 10-mile stretch of Interstate 90 running east from the town of George, WA. The light displays are put up a few days before Thanksgiving and are kept up until New Years Eve.
Over time, weather and aging equipment has taken a toll on the 22 displays and they are in need of some love. To keep this tradition going we are in need of some funds to update these wonderful displays.
Please consider a one-time donation to this worthy cause and help to allow us to carry on this tradition for another 20 years and bring smiles and holiday cheer to the next generation who travels through our area.
Thank you for your consideration,
Pete Romano, Lisa Karstetter and Scott Lybbert
FAQ
Where will my donation go?
· 22 displays need some form of renovation.
· Most need welding repairs some need new steel and more extensive repairs then others.
· They all need new lights (changing them to LED lights would be brighter and more energy efficient)
· There are a few displays that are still waiting to be finished (one being a military display).
Who pays to power them?
· The farmers that own the circles in the fields in which they are placed have and will continue to pay to power them.
What account does the money go to?
· The money will go into the AgFARMation account at Key Bank. AgFARMation is a 501c3 organization. Monies will only be used for light displays.
Cost?
· The average cost is around $700 a display to convert old strands to LED and re-weld the displays to make them strong enough for transport and to withstand the winds and adverse weather we get in December.
· We are hoping to get funding to do 10-12 this year and then the rest next year.
· Quincy Rotary Club has committed to matching up to the first $2,000.
I-90 Holiday Light History
- Mid 1980’s: Scott Lybbert, a creative local citizen, strung a single strand of holiday lights, in the shape of a star, and they are hung between the steel “rabbit ears” of an irrigation pivot setting dormant for the winter. Next came a life-size Santa Clause and Reindeer display, made from worn out farm parts, which was mounted atop the roof of potato storage along State Highway 283 (between George and Ephrata, Washington). Over the next few years an additional 4 displays are added along Highway 283.
- Early 1990’s: The displays are moved to Interstate 90 so more people can enjoy them. Each year, additional displays are built and mounted along neighboring farmer’s fields, approximately every half-mile, on both sides of the freeway, along a 10-mile stretch. Each fall, after the irrigation water is turned off, farmers move their pivots and park them along the freeway, so they can provide electricity to power what is now 22 displays. (Farmers pick up the cost to power these during the holidays) . Throughout the ‘90’s neighboring farmers and businesses donated steel and Christmas lights for the project.
- Early 2000’s: The I-90 holiday displays become a community event. The non-profit AgFARMation organization takes over fund raising for the project and Quincy Farm Chemical employees (now The McGregor Company) begins custom building two-wheeled trailers to mount the displays to for easy mobilization. Quincy Farm Chemicals takes over the storing and mobilizing of the giant 2-wheeled displays and additional community individuals and families pitch in to assist.
- Early 2010’s: The Quincy based McGregor Company has a couple of employees who continue to do basic upkeep and manage getting the displays out each year but the displays need some major overhauls which will require more man power and additional funds.
Link to story on lights:
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/dec/24/lighted-displays-help-christmas-come-to-life/
Organizer and beneficiary
Lisa McCullough Karstetter
Organizer
Quincy, WA
Peter Romano
Beneficiary
