MILLERSBURG HOLIDAY MONEY — Pictured at Millersburg Feed is, from left, Susan Stump, the Papers sales representative; Audrey Miller, daughter of 2025 Christmas Bucks first-place winner Amy Miller; and Michelle Miller, Millersburg Feeds representative – no relation to the winning family. Amy Miller received $1,000 in holiday scrip through The Papers Inc.’s annual promotion. Photo by Maksym Hart.

By Maksym Hart
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Seven area residents will have a little extra cheer this holiday season after winning The Papers Inc.’s annual Christmas Bucks drawing, held Monday, Nov. 25, at the company’s headquarters.

This year’s first-place winner is Amy Miller of Millersburg, who received $1,000 in Christmas Bucks.

Miller, who entered the drawing at Millersburg Feeds, said she was stunned when she learned her name had been drawn from hundreds of entries across Kosciusko and Elkhart counties.

“For the first couple seconds, I wasn’t sure where I would have won something,” Miller said. “Then when he said it again, I just could not believe my luck. For so many people to enter and to be the one to win is quite ecstatic.”

Miller said she first learned about the promotion while accompanying a friend on errands. When they stopped at Millersburg Feeds, she noticed the entry box near the counter and decided to participate on a whim.

“I’ve put my name in before, but nothing ever happens,” Miller said with a laugh. “You can always hope something will happen, and this time it did.”

Millersburg Feeds employee Marlin Yoder said this year, when The Papers sales representative Susan Stump picked up the raffle box to take for the official pull, store owner Larry Miller – no relation to Amy Miller – asked to draw Millersburg Feeds’ winner himself. His choice ended up being the first place champion.

Shown from left are The Papers employees Susan Stump, sales representative; Reagan Nichols, marketing assistant; and Carl Lauster, sales representative, conduct the annual Christmas Bucks drawing Monday, Nov. 25 in Milford, selecting seven winners from participating businesses across Kosciusko and Elkhart counties. Photo from The Papers, Inc.

Present at the winning announcement and photos taken at the store were Stump, Amy Miller’s daughter Audrey Miller, and store representative Michelle Miller – Larry Miller’s daughter.

Amy Miller said she and her husband are still deciding how to spend the $1,000. Ideas range from home improvement purchases to something fun for the family.

“When I told my husband, he said, ‘It’s yours. You can use it for whatever you want,’” she said. “We’re still thinking about the possibilities.”

The Christmas Bucks program awards a total of $3,000 in holiday scrip each year, redeemable at participating businesses across Kosciusko and Elkhart counties listed on the back of each Buck.

Winners have until Wednesday, Dec. 31, to spend their Bucks.

This year’s second- and third-place winners each received $500 in Christmas Bucks, while places four through seven received $250 apiece.

Entries were collected throughout November at dozens of participating retailers across Kosciusko and Elkhart counties, which displayed Christmas Bucks entry boxes near their checkout areas. Customers could enter the drawing for free by filling out an entry slip after making a purchase.

Once the entry period closed, sales representatives from The Papers collected the boxes from each business and brought them to the main office in Milford, where the official drawing is held.

The Christmas Bucks promotion continues to be a holiday tradition for readers of ‘the PAPER,’ offering community engagement and a seasonal boost for local businesses.

The program will return in 2026.

Other winners include:

• Second place, Earl Bontrager, New Paris, $500, Pine Valley Feeds, New Paris.
• Third place, Lisa Shelton, Warsaw, $500, McHatton-Sadler, Warsaw.
• Fourth place, Katrina Holmes, Nappanee, $250, Grandma’s Pantry, Wakarusa.
• Fifth place, Mary Showalter, Goshen, $250, Olympia Candy Kitchen, Goshen.
• Sixth place, Joe Tackett, Claypool, $250, Brower’s, Warsaw.
• Seventh place, Klaus Mueller, New Paris, $250, Simplify Tech, New Paris.