Ryan Plough has become a local legend after winning the annual Christmas decorating contest for the third consecutive year (2022-2024). 191 N. Stone Road has become a festive staple in Union County and a must-see for Christmas-light enthusiasts each year! The Plough family has once again won the $500 prize, leading the competition in votes from beginning to end, as they did in 2023.

When asked about his dedication to decorating, Ryan’s reply was simple and sweet. “We do it for the grandkids… When you see the smiles on their faces, it makes it all worthwhile,” he explained.

(L-R) Grace Osbourne, Ryan Plough, Carter Plough.

After enjoying grandpa’s amazing decorations year after year, Grace Osbourne and Carter Plough were inspired to pitch in this season. According to Ryan, during those chilly months, they were outside helping with inflatable displays and lights. He was very proud that decorating their home had now become a Plough family tradition.

Ryan’s house sits back from the road, down a long gravel driveway. This creates a large canvas, offering plenty of creative options. Like clockwork, the Ploughs turn on their lights every year after Thanksgiving. They start setting up the day after Halloween.

Due to heavy winds in December, a large portion of their decorations had to come down earlier than expected. According to Ryan, by the end of the month, they were operating with about half of their normal things. “During that bad windstorm, we had one of our most expensive inflatables get ripped out of the ground. It took us a while to find it because it had blown all the way back to the tree line,” he said. The tree line that he mentioned sits a few acres behind his home. Ryan reiterated, “There was a lot that we had to hold back on. During Christmas, our most expensive stuff wasn’t out there—next year will be bigger!”

DEC 2024: Photo of the Christmas decorations from the Plough Family (191 Stone Rd., Liberty, IN).

In 2024, the Union County Christmas Decorating Contest was expanded from three to five residential winners ($500 each). Awards were decided by popular vote. Votes were submitted online via uc-connect.org. Top 5 Residential Winners (2024): Ryan Plough, Dennis & Suzanne Brack, Melissa Davis, Susan Jobe, and Mark & Christy Mosley. Best Local Business Decorations: Twice As Nice Liberty.

In 2025, all county residents are invited to take part in the Christmas decorating contest. The more, the merrier! It’s exciting to think of what unique touches could be added to the collective magic of the Union County holiday season. This contest is expected to grow, potentially adding more prize money and more winners. Most importantly, decorating your home could become another fun tradition for the family- just like the Plough family. And if you’re a lone wanderer, maybe it’s time to show off to the neighbors! No entry is necessary; just submit your votes online at uc-connect.org, then each home voted for will have a running tally.

So next year, calling all creatives to, “LIGHT UP UC!”

Written by Cyrus Johnson and published to Union County Connect on January 20, 2025.