In 2008, Wendy Clay, a Master Gardener from De Soto, Kansas, dreamed of decorating the White House for Christmas. Sixteen years later, she fulfilled that dream as one of 300 volunteers chosen from thousands of applicants to help create the 2024 White House holiday theme, A Season of Peace and Light.

Clay worked on the Grand Foyer, decorating six tall Christmas trees and assembling over 1,000 paper doves, which adorned the central hallway. The decorations for the entire White House included 83 Christmas trees, 165,075 lights, and a Gingerbread White House crafted with over 195 pounds of confectionery materials.

Clay’s experience with the Johnson County Extension Master Gardeners, including leading large-scale decorating projects, prepared her for this honor. She applied three times before being selected and credited the late Dennis Patton, a local horticulture expert, for supporting her nomination.