By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The small community of Zabcikville along Highway 53 is known mainly for its kolaches and sausage. But in December, the local grainery takes center stage with its Christmas lights display.

The switch was first flipped on about five years ago when the Meyer brothers had enough time to take on the project.

“We have the big bin and a catwalk. We thought it would be neat to add some Christmas lights to it,” Daniel Meyer, one of the brothers and assistant manager at the grainery, said. “My brother suggested adding ‘Merry Christmas.’”

So, the brothers enlisted the help of others who work at the grainery, and Merry Christmas was added to the top in bright lights.

It was no simple task, though. The words, which are made out of cattle panels, sit on the very top of the bin about six stories high.

“We have a billboard 85 feet up in the air. It’s great for Christmas decorations and sharing a little Christmas spirit,” Daniel said. “You can see that from a pretty good distance.”

He’s right. The lights shine brightly, grabbing your attention even before you reach the community.

But that was just the first year. The Christmas decorations have grown a little more elaborate every year since.

“We added the icicle lights to look like snow and a snowman,” he said.

But why have one snowman when you can have four?

That’s just what this crew did.

“Then, we made four snowmen and used a light sequencer to have them sliding down the side of the bin,” he said.

Over the years, they’ve added a Christmas tree that’s about 25 feet tall.

They’ve even put lights on an 18-wheeler they park in front of the bins.

“It gets everyone in the Christmas spirit,” Daniel, a Falls County Farm Bureau member, said. “People in the community know we do this, and word has gotten around to other communities and towns, too. I think it’s expected that we’ll add something new each year.”

Photos and videos of the decorations are shared on social media—spreading the Christmas cheer to thousands.

The Meyer family—including Daniel and his brother, dad and uncle—grow corn, wheat, cotton and grain sorghum in and around the Zabcikville community. They also raise goats and cattle.

Although the grainery is located in Zabcikville, Daniel calls Westphalia home. It’s another small farming community just down the road.

But in the rural towns that make up Central Texas, one thing is consistent no matter where you live, work or farm—community strength.

“We have fun doing this, and I think everyone around here likes it, too,” Daniel said. “It’s nice to be able to provide something to the community and for people as they drive through here.”

Crops, livestock and Christmas lights. It’s the ingredients for the Meyer family, their business and their employees to shine light on the Christmas spirit and the holiday season.