Dec 13, 2025 - Steve

Gingersnap Hollerby is the North Pole baker who always smells like cinnamon and good ideas. His checkered shirt is his baking uniform, and the gold star pin marks the recipe that finally made Santa say “whoa.” He believes every problem can be softened with patience, warmth, and something fresh from the oven. During Advent, he quietly leaves treats behind and swears the smiles are the real magic.

Dec 9, 2024 - Lou
His name is Ellis. He’s playing with something like a ball

Dec 11, 2023 - Penny
My name’s Al. My favorite colors are red, blue, and tish. I like to kiss.

Dec 6, 2022 - Jenny
Cowboy Hank (I suspect this name has been given to this character before... it seems obvious... c'mon, handkerchief without the "d"!)
Hank likes to bank, but he kind of stank at it. In part because he had a viscous cank... er sore... which really make his speech frank. And so he would say thank, thank, thank... but not "you". So his prank with money really didn't rank. So his funds he did yank and then he walked the plank, which went fast because his legs were lank.

2021 - Steve
Kinspolk Cowpie from Northern South Kansarkansas. Always tied up in knots since he was a child (on account of his cow wrangling days). He believes the best way to win someone over is a good homemade stew and a handsewn Christmas stocking.

2020 - Marc
Timone Pumba Wilson (his parents were big fans of the Lion King). He's a 5th generation llama rancher outside of Texarkana, on the Arkansas side. Llama ranching doesn't give him much downtime but when he has some he enjoys a good game of croquet or tiddlywinks. He's a die-hard Taco Bell fan and lord help you if you ever suggest going to Del Taco instead. Incidentally his parents last name was Johnson but they're also big fans of Tom Hanks.

2019 - Jenny
Jake has been bitten by rattlesnakes 5 times in his life, struck by lightening 3 times, and has fallen into 2 wells. All before the age of 24. Not sure what’s next for him, but he’ll probably survive it!

2018 - Mike
Sandra Bullock, after finishing her career as a beauty pageant queen/under cover agent - she moved to Quad Cities and now operates an ice cream store in town and a farm on the Illinois side. Sometimes the girls come over to visit from her pageant days and they all go fishing and drink mimosas.

2017 - Mike
Billy Joe Mortimer from the field across the way. Determined to mechanically restore the tractor that had been passed down 3 generations, he doesn't leave the field except for the great tornado of 2012. He's determined in his efforts.

2016 - Jenny
Cowboy shomperoo is a kangaroo wrangler in Afghanistan. Yes, it's a rare profession, but it fits him well. He also makes a mean mac and cheese. We spent time together last may and he kindly let me stay in his 'roo trailer

2015 - Kaylee
Ms. Checkers is a world-class cherry pie eating champion! She holds the record for most pies eaten in 10 minutes- 11 pies!! She was born and raised in Tennessee and despite her day job, has a sweet little figure that perfectly compliments her sweet southern charm.

2014 - Mike
Codfish Joe, An Amish farmer than excels in repairing horse reins throughout the week on top of his normal farmy-like duties and yodeling on Saturday nights. He's growing out his beard for locks of love, should be ready for donation by super bowl 2017! Meanwhile, he can't get a job repairing the Golden Gate Bridge because of his dissatisfaction with the color orange.

2013 - Mike
Carl Lorthner, he's a park ranger in Pawnee, Indiana, he's pretty psyched to have seen Avatar and believes it lives up to the hype in social media. He gets nervous when interviewed on television but loves his job, possums and refilling hummingbird feeders.

2012 - Jenny
Buckaroo Rodeo... that is the actual name given to this guy at birth. His parents figured, "hey, our last name is Rodeo... might as well give him a thematic first name!" and so they did and so little Buckaroo grew up roping and riding.

2011 - Marc
Chuckles Limburger is a professional rodeo rider. His specialty is calf roping. He uses an unusual technique in which he gets out in front of the calf and then hypnotizes it by swinging his lasso back and forth in a pendulum. Eventually the hypnotized calf falls asleep and Chuckles gently places the lasso over its head. Because this process takes about 15 minutes he has come in dead last in every competition so far, but he doesn't care. Chuckles grew up on a ranch in Meeteetse, Wyoming.

2010 - Mike
Hypotenuse from West Orangefield, Nebraskie believes in gravity (despite the beliefs of his Amish neighbors) and he enjoys a good tractor pull on Wednesday evenings using his 1974 John De'rr.

2009 - Marc
this is Paco Pacheco. His family comes from the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, however they were exiled by the British and American Governments when a military base was constructed there. Paco was born and grew up on the island of Mauritius where he shepherds a small goat herd and dreams of moving to Pewsham, England.

2008 - Jenny
Cowboy Bob. He lives in an old railroad car by a lake in Idaho. He has two sheep dogs. And only one old horse. No cattle. He spends most of his time hanging at Denny's and eating the "Grand Slam." Most people in his little town wonder what he does for a living and how he can afford all these Denny's meals.....it remains a mystery.

2007 - Mike
Wilbur from Harrisburg, MASS. Dubbleya from H-MASS loves to hit up the night life and celebrate life in what is called H-MASS. He thoroughly enjoys pepperoni pizza and can not stand the smell of pickles. He hopes to one day become all that he can be.

2006 - Jenny
Hunky Dory And he's a rock star. He wears the bling as a star on his chest.