For 27 years people have been decorating trees, sewing quilts, and donating silent auction items for the Hospice Christmas Auction and Dinner. And then buying them back — sometimes paying thousands of dollars for a Christmas tree.

Of course these are not ordinary Christmas trees. The top seller this year, at a bid of $6700, also included a generous travel voucher for when winter thoughts wander to warmer climes.

Another was decorated in memory of loved one and his favorite movie.

In true Prineville spirit, the auction and dinner is held in the Crook County Fairgrounds indoor arena, which on other weekends hosts rodeos, the 4-H fair and high school graduation.

There are no limits to what people in rural communities will do to help each other. More than 700 attended this year’s event raising more than $90,000.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to Everyone from the Shelk Foundation!