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Last Monday, FFA and 4-H worked together to assemble trees for the Tinsel Trail at the Boat Basin.

The Tinsel Trail is a delightful collection of trees that are decorated for the holiday season by many people and businesses in the community. The trees are decorated based on the organization’s or company’s background, or action. For example, Georgia’s Own Credit Union decorated their tree with money, Mardi Gras Society of Southwest Georgia glamorized their tree in colorful theatrical masks, giant beads, and bows, and Bridge Behavior Consulting decorated their tree in colors based on characters from the Disney Pixar movie “Inside Out.”

FFA and 4-H has been involved with the Tinsel Trail since it was started 5 years ago. With the collaboration of Dan Provence and Springhill Tree Farm from Hopkins Farm in North Carolina, the trees were able to arrive on Sunday, and the students were out for Thanksgiving Break starting Monday which made it a perfect time to stake some trees. The process of prepping the trees entailed “making a fresh cut on the tree stump, drilling a hole for the stand, placing all stands to accommodate the tree size, putting up all the trees, and finally staking them. The city gets involved by running water lines to every tree and electrical boxes for lighting and decorations. ” Karen Tobin, Chamber President, explained.

Tobin exclaimed 4-H and FFA have done the tree staking tradition so well for many years that the Chamber decided to ask for their help again and distribute the tree sponsorship money between the chapters. “The Chamber Staff decided last year that having all the trees staked by them prevented the trees from being downed by inclement weather. So, we proposed to our local FFA and 4-H chapters to assist us, and the money we charge the sponsors for staking gets distributed between the Chapters. This year that totaled over $2000!” She continued. “It takes a small village, and we couldn’t be happier with the involvement and dedication of our committee, FFA, 4-H, and the City of Bainbridge. The Chamber is so pleased to bring the SWGA Tinsel Trail to the community. This and the Lights along the River on Hatcher Rd. organized by the City of Bainbridge is well worth the drive or stroll to see such a spectacular festival of lights.”

Lindsay Hayes, County Extension Coordinator for 4-H, stated, “4-H uses the opportunity to be involved in the Tinsel Trail with decorating the tree for Decatur County Extension/4-H, and we highlight agriculture with our tree.” She continued. “Agriculture is Georgia and Decatur County’s #1 industry! We love highlighting some of the agricultural commodities.”

Victoria Harrell, FFA Advisor, expressed the same sentiment, stating, “The Southwest Georgia Tinsel Trail is an attraction that we are lucky to have in Bainbridge. The Chamber of Commerce works tirelessly to make this happen each year and pulls this off successfully each year. We are thankful for the Chamber of Commerce for thinking of us, as youth organizations, to help with the implementation each year.”