After putting off entering the Minnesota State Fair’s best creative competition for many years, I finally had the time, subject matter, and determination to do it. With the help of Christy Klancher and the rest of the Minnesota Crop Art community—the most welcoming, helpful, and supportive people ever—I learned enough to put my piece together. In true graphic designer fashion, I put the finishing touches on about 30 minutes before the drop-off window started.
Crop Art entries are judged a few days before the fair starts, but results aren’t posted until the exhibit officially opens. Because I have no chill, there was no way I was going to just look at the results online. I joined other crop artists in front of the Ag-Hort Building at 8:30 AM on the opening day of the fair so we could be the first ones in when the doors opened at 9:00.
The doors opened and the already massive crowd flooded into the hall to view the 451 entries—over 100 more than 2024—which now take up much more of the areas usually occupied by hundreds of corn cobs. I glanced through the pieces until I spotted mine, beelined for it, and found a yellow fifth-place ribbon attached to it. I was thrilled, to say the very least.
Without further ado, here is my award-winning crop art piece!
You can see it in person at the Minnesota State Fair until Labor Day.