Company-wide collaboration  

The Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the top three entries in the 2026 Scarecrow Decorating contest:

• First place: GROB Systems
• Second place: SumiRiko
• Third place: Et Cetera Shop

Seventeen businesses participated in the competition. GROB garnered 35 out of the 104 votes.

ABOUT THE GROB ENTRY
By Mark Reed

This year’s scarecrow was a result of multiple departments in the company being involved, as well as the apprentices.

What started as a last-minute idea grew into a company-wide collaboration that brought together apprentices, staff and multiple departments to create this year's LEGO-themed scarecrow.

With the annual scarecrow project approaching and time running short, the apprenticeship team rallied support from several areas across the company to bring the concept to life. Employees from the paint shop, tagging department, shipping team and apprenticeship program all played key roles in the project’s success.

The theme selection began with input from apprentices, who were asked to suggest ideas that reflected current culture and trends. Suggestions ranged from popular news stories to entertainment themes, but one idea quickly stood out: LEGO.

"The LEGO concept really resonated with us," said the project team. "It is a hobby that comes up frequently during interviews and conversations with apprentices, making it both relevant and recognizable."

Once the theme was chosen, the team faced its first major challenge: determining how to construct a large-scale LEGO figure. After exploring several options, including 3D printing, the group found an unexpected solution. A propane tank from a gas grill provided the perfect shape for the scarecrow's iconic LEGO-style head. With the head established, the remainder of the figure was designed and scaled accordingly.

The designs were then taken to the shipping area, where technicians who package company machines assisted with cutting the individual parts to size. Apprentice Logan Rittenhouse played a significant role in preparing many of the scarecrow's components during the early stages of construction.

As the project progressed, apprentice staff and apprentices worked together to assemble the body and legs, transforming the design concepts into a full-sized structure.

The completed framework was then moved to the paint shop, where the team was granted access to the spray booth. Apprentices Cristian Gonzalez and Grady Steffan took the lead on painting efforts with guidance and support from paint shop employees.

Meanwhile, the tagging department contributed by producing the scarecrow's facial decals using graphics generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence, helping bring the LEGO character to life.

After several days of teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving, the finished scarecrow stood as a testament to collaboration across the organization. What began as idea became a successful example of what can be accomplished when apprentices, staff and multiple departments work together toward a common goal.

The completed LEGO-themed scarecrow not only showcased craftsmanship and ingenuity but also highlighted the strong culture of teamwork that exists throughout the company.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Filling a decorative gap between live flowers provided by Bluffton in Bloom and holiday decorations associated with the Blaze of Lights, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce holds an October scarecrow decorating contest that populates downtown Bluffton with cute, scary and fantastical figures.

To volunteer for Blaze of Lights decorating, visit https://app.seemylegacy.com/community/2834/campaign/11082/overview