A long-standing holiday tradition is all a-glow again this Christmas season just outside of Waterloo.

The Poetker family started decorating for Christmas outside its farm on Gilmore Lake Road northeast of Waterloo 52 years ago, when three family children — sisters Mary Poetker, Carol Noelke and Karen Vogt — put up a lighted nativity scene.

It featured the key figures from the Bible story, a manger and hay bales.

In the years that followed, plastic statues were added, and then the house – which was purchased by the family in 1955 and which is at its core a log cabin from the 1800s – was lighted.

The lighted Christmas display that has grown from those humble beginnings may not outshine displays in St. Louis or the “Way of Lights” at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, but if you haven’t seen it, you have to put it on your “bucket list” to visit this year.

Who puts this colorful nighttime display into action every year? The Republic-Times sat down with brothers Kevin and Curt Poetker for answers.

“There are eight of us,” Kevin responded. “And the neighbors are key to our success.  A list of friends that continues to grow every year are critical too. And I can’t leave out our farm employees. It’s a family, area and community effort. I hesitate to start listing names, because I don’t want to leave anyone out.

“People put displays up, or feed cattle (the Poetker farm is a working dairy farm), maybe allowing us to be out harvesting fall crops while they erect the displays,” he added.  “They do whatever’s needed.”

While many of the elements are commercial in nature, others are just as obviously handmade or modified, with large elements of love in their recipes.

A life-size sleigh with Mrs. Claus and Santa in the front is pulled by a team of obviously purchased reindeer.

But Rudolph, “in the lead tonight,” has a special touch that Kevin added – a brightly lighted red nose, just like in the story and song.

The huge Christmas train is also an obvious homemade labor of love, as well.

“I need to re-paint some spots on it,” Kevin noted while walking among the displays.  “And, I have to rock this area in front of it.”

Over the years, many others — friends and neighbors, including the Gentsch family from Harrisonville Telephone Company — have added their personal touches as well.

“Henry Gentsch brought us that star,” Kevin said, pointing, “and H.R. Gentsch added the ‘Season’s Greetings’ sign,” Curt said.

And the seasonal display has spread off of the Poetker farm.

Neighbors decorate with bright lights, too. It basically has become a community display that attracts motorists from all around.

The display is visible from Thanksgiving to the Epiphany – Jan. 6, this year – according to Curt.

Where do the displays go after the season is ended?

“We have a two-car garage that houses some. A neighbor contributes another building for storage. And the little church building at the end of the display is both a display and storage place,” Kevin said.

As for how much the lighted displays affect the family’s electric bill, “let’s just say it has an impact – a pretty large one,” Kevin offered.

Now that your appetite is whetted, if you are not an annual visitor to this spectacular display of love for Christmas – where is it?

It is at 1060 Gilmore Lake Road. Drive carefully after dark, though, as the road winds, bends, dips and rises through the clay hills.

“And watch out for deer,” Kevin added.  “There are lots of them all around here.”