Decorah celebrates year-end with scarecrow decorating contest

Quality Production Lead Pam Humpal (right) decorates Laurie Koester as a scarecrow during the end-of-the-year celebration in Decorah, Iowa. Koester is a production operator.
Photo by Judy Kuboushek, Decorah, Iowa

Rockwell Collins employees at our facility in Decorah, Iowa, celebrated the close of Fiscal Year 2007 recently with an end-of-the-year event that included a scarecrow decorating contest.

"It was nice to get together with fellow employees because we don't get to do that every day," said Roger Sanford, a test technician in Decorah. "It also was a great chance for new employees to get to know their co-workers."

According to Sanford, employees were asked in advance to bring items suitable for decorating scarecrows. However, the 270 employees who attended the festivities were quite surprised when each team was asked to decorate one of their fellow team members.

"We had no idea we would be decorating a person," said Sanford, who also was the winner of the contest. "When I came around the corner and everyone was looking at me, I knew I was going to be the scarecrow."

Decorah Plant Manager Gordon Davis paid tribute to employees and thanked them for their "amazing work" by ensuring everyone received lunch and also a cooler as a thank you gift.

"Decorah had a great year," said Davis. "We met challenges with integrity and teamwork, and we're looking forward to another successful year in FY'08."