Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 136, Number 50, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 13 December 2018 — Page 2

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'Advance News - Thursday. December 13; 2018

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38th annual Holy Walk moxo proviaea Despite the bitter cold, dose to 3,200 peopie visited the 38th annual Bremen Holy Walk this past Friday and Saturday. It takes some 200 volunteers to facilitate the live reenactment, set in the recreated town of Bethlehem, that depicts the story of Jesus' birth. Viators to the Bremen Holy Walk are transported by bus to the reenactment site, just west of The Pines building on West Plymouth St Buses and accommodations for waiting Holy Walk visitors were provided by Bremen Public Schools Visitors walk the paths of the live reenactment viewing scenes portrayed by actors that tell the tale of the night Jesus was bom and the struggle that young Mary and Joseph encountered along their way to Bethlehem. The Bremen Holy Walk committee would like to extend thanks to everyone who helped bring the Waik to IHe.

Award, cons. from front

to Borkhoider because of its American roots and the people who work there. "It ail just sort of jived," Roscoe said. "I have been designing furniture for many, many years; never with an Amish company before (Borkhoider). We get that aspect of the craftsmanship, of the hand-crafted product, that h«a sort of eluded the furniture industry for many years, and the Amish connection has just been tremendous to bring all of that focus of craftsmanship, of quality heirloom products, back into focus." Roscoe noted that people of all generations are tending to favor "wholesome, organic, local, homegrown designs and products," particularly those that are also sustainable or organic. "And thaf s where the Amish people come in," she said. "This is not an award for me as the designer; it is a design award, but we've all grown this produc* line together. But the Amish people can build anything, ano ft just kind of ail came together to product this beautiful Local Harvest design. All they need from me is just guidance." With the Amish roots as a base for die company, Havorson said it allows for him and Roscoe to use their industry expertise to Borkholder's advantage, which makes for "a

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Community

very interesting kind of combination." "And what allows it to work is our CEO, Ola Yoder," Havorson said. "He has the vision to ready allow people to thrive. When we come up with ideas and we present a compelling case, he says, OK, go do it' And so we've been able to do things that die company never dreamed of doing because they didn't have that kind of guidance and perspective that Catina and I have been able to offer." And Roscoe's perspective, Havorson said, is balanced and well-educated in the furniture industry. "What I'll categorize as ' Amish furniture' is wonderfully made, but it tends to be overscaied, a bit big and dunky," he said. "And so what Catina has been able to do is style and finesse to what we do with some original designs that you're not going to find any place else; they're exdusive to Borkhoider." He noted that in an industry that thrives from copying other designers' work to some degree, Roscoe is able to "bring a totally fresh perspective on how to make quality furniture in Indiana." Havorson and Roscoe both expounded on the American furniture industry expanding into Asia, and how it has affected the quality of goods in the nation. But Rosae said

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that was what inevitably made Borkhoider shine when the judges were looking to present the award. "The other finalists were tremendous designs, but they were mostly import products," she noted. "They were a lot more glamorous, a lot more elegant and what was pretty special that evening was that the judges saw m our product something that fits people's lives day in and day out. Products that we would fill our homes with. ... They saw the authenticity and the craftsmanship and the uniqueness in that design to give it the award." Roscoe noted a "void in manufacturing" that Borkhoider is able to fill with its products in ways that those import companies can't. She detailed that the practice of having a master craftsman pass down techniques from one generation to the next is becoming obsolete as more products are being imported from Asia. "And we used to have woodworking classes, in our high schools, and now we really don't anymore," she added, explaining how the practice is being lost. "There aren't that many people left in America who are working with their hands like that, and I think there is starting to be a real resurgence of that, of people that are makers of their own products. .And this is just a tremendous opportunity for a place like Borkhoider, ... to fill that void in the industry in the United States." And the prominence of products that are made m America is becoming more significant, particularly for industries like furniture, according to Havorson. "We may have Amish roots, we may use some of those techniques and characteristics in what we do, and it certainly spreads throughout our whole work ethic and hoe we go about doing business," he said. "But I think die primary thing that Ola really wants to promote is that we are designed and made in America. We are the perfect example to show good, quality-made furniture." To further delineate between being an Amish company and one that embraces its American heritage, Havorson explained how he and Roscoe are bringing modern concepts to the products and practices of Borkhoider. "One of the downsides of Amish product is that typically if s not very stylish, and it takes three to six months to get '' Havorson said. "Ola is working so that we do make stylish products, and he's working in such a way that we can get it shipped to you m six to eight weeks. If s all about quality, in packaging, and shipping and in what Catina designs, or we manufacture. "It all has to do with putting quality out as the first thing we want to accomplish."

Gift, coni, from front ! , g es out to people who need help and hope and leads the-. most daunting soda! cri-, *•*, looking for wins that are long-fern eolations. United Way Give and Golf. Cards may be obtained by ash or check at the Bremen and Plymouth Chambers of Commerce, MAX 98.3 > FM and WTCA 1050 AM radio stations, Treat’s Squire Shop, The UPS Store, New Attitude Hair and Nail . Salon, and Lafree Physical Therapy. Golf Cards may also be purchased by cash, check, or credit cad at participating golf courses and . the United Way of Marshall \ County office, located at , 2701 North Michigan Street in Plymouth, or online < at http: / / www.marshallcountyiw.org. Scheduled tee \ times and a cart rental may , be required and some dates and times may be restricted due to other events at the courses. For more information, . visit http://www.marshallcountyuw.org, or call the , United Way of Marshall County office at 574-936-. 3366.