A love for community, Christmas and lights wins in Winfield

WINFIELD — Thanks to the recognition of their community Rick and Rita Sparrow received first place in the first ever Winfield Community Development Group’s Holiday Home Decorating Contest.

The first contest received 13 entrees, but not all of them were self-nominated.

According to Rita, someone in the community took it upon themselves to put their home in the running for best display in Winfield.

“The people of the community kind of know us pretty well and they always look forward to Rick and his lights,” Rita said.

It is only fitting that the community would recognize Rick’s lights because, according to him, they’re the reason he puts together such a large display.

“Back when I was little, many moons ago, I remember the most exciting thing to me about Christmas was the lights,” Rick shared. “I was from a farm down by Salem and my folks were always taking us to Mt. Pleasant to see the lights and they were always taking us to Yarmouth. It just seemed like that’s what made Christmas was all the bright lights, the manger scenes and all that stuff.”

For Rick, looking at Christmas lights is synonymous with enjoying the season, and he wants to share the joy he feels with those around him.

“We have a couple of day cares right down the street from us,” he said. “And all the little kids enjoy seeing them.”

Rick loves that his lights can put smiles on the faces of those kids and all the members of the Winfield community which he loves.

“I was pretty blessed when I was growing up as a kid, so, anything I can do to pass that on to somebody else, that’s what I need to do,” Rick said.

While the Sparrow’s yard is filled with inflatables, lights, and a manger scene, Rick says it only takes him approximately two and a half days to get everything set up and ready for the season, if the weather is nice.

Then the Sparrows leave their display up until after the first of the year to extend as much of the joy as they can.

Rick even likes to make sure he keeps the inflatables up during the day for those day care children just down the road to see as they come and go.

Of all the lights, displays, and inflatables, Rick says his favorites are simply the blinking lights, but his wife Rita’s is the manger scene.

While it is enough for Rick and Rita to bring smiles to people’s faces, their first-place win earned them a $75 reward.

Jimmy Bryant’s lights on South Walnut Street received second place with a $50 prize, and Jeff and Mindi Albaugh’s only a few blocks down from him took third place with a $25 prize.

“Hopefully next year maybe we’ll have 20 homes,” Rick said.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com