Making EP proud at the Minnesota State Fair

Eden Prairie residents aren’t just attending the Minnesota State Fair — they’re busy making it happen. 

Eden Prairie High School’s dynamic students helped kick off day one of the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” on Thursday, Aug. 25. The marching band, color guard, and pom squad entertained the crowd with upbeat songs, including the EPHS rouser and “Take On Me” by Norwegian new wave 1980s band A-ha. 

From kindergarteners to senior citizens, EP-ites made our city proud by having their work displayed (and winning ribbons!) in many State Fair competitions. They wowed judges with their talents, from drawing and photography, to sewing and basket weaving, to baking, beekeeping, and more. 

Heading to the state fair this week? Be sure to check out their exhibits!

Here’s a listing of who’s won what so far. Some categories are still being judged. If you have a winning exhibit that’s not listed here, please send information and a photo to juliana.allen@eplocalnews.org.

Editor’s note: Juliana Allen took all the photos for this story unless otherwise noted.

Ag-Hort-Bee — Bee and Honey

Comb section honey 

• Round comb sections – Terri Endres, 1st

Liquid (Extracted) Honey 

• 12-ounce plastic squeeze bear containers – Terri Endres, 2nd

Natural beeswax block 

• Light – Terri Endres, 2nd

• Dark – Terri Endres, 3rd

Sweepstakes, Honey & Apiary Products – Terri Endres, 4th

Honey Yeast Breads 

• White – Monica Vogel, 3rd

• Challah – Monica Vogel, 3rd

• Multi-grain – William Middeke, 3rd

• Rye – William Middeke, 5th

Honey Pastries 

• Baklava – Meghan Irving, 3rd

Ag-Hort-Bee — Fruit and wine

Apples

• Apples, Haral Red – James Heimerl, 1st

Creative Activities — Baked products 

Bread, plain dough, yeast — no half loaves 

• Whole grains – Monica Vogel, 3rd

Bread, sweet dough, yeast 

• Sweet rolls, without fruit or nuts – Lisa Rude, 3rd

Cookies and bars 

• Shortbread cookies, plain, no seasoning, nuts, chips – Lisa Rude, 3rd

Vegan Main Dish Contest 

• Vegan Main Dish – Lisa Rude, 3rd

Creative Activities — Canning

Maple Syrup

• Amber maple syrup/rich flavor – Riley Sugarbush, 2nd

• Dark maple syrup/robust flavor – Riley Sugarbush, 4th

Creative Activities — Garment Making

Adult garments

• Dress, knit fabric – Camryn Monzo, 2nd

• Jacket, lined – Camryn Monzo, 1st

Infant and toddler garments 

• Bonnet or cap, knitted – Bethany Wenger, 3rd

• Afghan, crocheted, no larger than 42 in. x 42 in. – Mary Lanners, 2nd

Creative Activities — Handcrafts 

Weaving, Knotting, Felting, and Caning

• Basketry, plaited – Sharon Belsaas, 4th

• Basketry, twined – Sharon Belsaas, 3rd

• Basketry, ribbed – Sharon Belsaas, 1st

• Basketry, other technique or mixed technique – Sharon Belsaas, 1st

• Garment, adult, ethnic – Ashley Haapapuro, 1st

• Hand spun yarn (hair and fur) – Ashley Haapapuro, 3rd

• Hand spun novelty yarn (nap, core, spiral, knot, slub) – Ashley Haapapuro, 4th

Free Hand Painting on Porcelain 

• Landscape – Sharon Lindbloom, 3rd

• Animals (wildlife, bugs, fish, etc.) – Sharon Lindbloom, 3rd

• Contemporary – Sharon Lindbloom, 2nd

• Flowers – Sharon Lindbloom, 3rd

• Christmas – Sharon Lindbloom, 2nd

• Luster – Sharon Lindbloom, 3rd

• Pen work – Sharon Lindbloom, 1st

Porcelain Color Design Award – Sharon Lindbloom

Creative Activities — Needlecraft

Canvas work (needlepoint)

• Picture, long stitch, framed, under 50 sq. in. – Mary Lanners, 3rd

Counted cross stitch

• Picture, framed, 25 sq. in.-50 sq. in. – Cheryl Fiore, 3rd

• Picture, framed, 50 sq. in.-100 sq. in. – Orlando Logelin, 2nd

• Cross stitch picture with beading, buttons, framed – Cheryl Fiore, 4th

Crocheted articles

• Hat, beret or cap, one color and/or variegated yarn – Bethany Wenger, 5th

• Mittens or gloves – Bethany Wenger, 2nd

Machine knitted articles

• Infant wear (size 0-2) – Maria Ann Youngs, 1st

• Sweater, plain pullover, adult – Maria Ann Youngs, 2nd

• Toy – Maria Ann Youngs, 2nd

• Socks – Maria Ann Youngs, 3rd

• Not otherwise specified, wearable – Maria Ann Youngs, 2nd

Hand knitted articles

• Cap or hat, texture – Bethany Wenger, 2nd

Knitting Machine Dealers Club of the Upper Midwest – Maria Ann Youngs, 1st

Midwest Machine Knitters’ Collaborative – Maria Ann Youngs, 1st

Creative Activities — Work of senior citizens

Handcrafts

• Basketry – any type – Sharon Belsaas, 2nd

Needlecrafts

• Crocheted afghan – Jackie Peters, 4th

Fine Arts

Drawings – pastel

• Daniel Volenec, “Tomorrow” (charcoal and pencil on paper), 3rd

Minnesota Artists Association Award

• Daniel Volenec, “Tomorrow” (charcoal and pencil on paper), 1st

Victor Gilbertson Watercolor Award

• Karen Knutsen, “Close to my Heart” (watercolor on paper), 1st

K-12 Competition – Education – Individual Exhibits

Kindergarten 

• Painting, mixed media – Benedict Wang, Scenic Heights Elementary

• Grand prize – Benedict Wang, Scenic Heights Elementary

1st grade

• Drawing, crayon – Chingyang Gao, Scenic Heights Elementary

• Drawing, mixed media – Chingyang Gao, Scenic Heights Elementary, 2nd

2nd grade

• Drawing, mixed media – Ella Veatch, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, 2nd

• Drawing, colored pencil – Ella Veatch, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, 4th

• Painting, mixed media – Ella Veatch, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, 2nd

• Sculpture – Ella Veatch, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, 2nd

• Clay – Ella Veatch, Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion, 1st

3rd grade

• Drawing – pencil, charcoal, ink or ballpoint pen – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 3rd

• Drawing, colored pencil – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 2nd

• Painting – mixed media – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 2nd

• Sculpture – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 1st

• Dimensional projects – puppets, mobiles, etc. – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 2nd

• Weaving and other fibers – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 4th

• Reports – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 3rd

• Original stories – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 3rd

• Poems or poem collections – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 4th

• Photography, color – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 2nd

• Group projects – banners, murals, sculpture, wall hangings, quilts – Meg Schmitt, Prairie View Elementary, 2nd

5th grade

• Drawing, markers – Sophie McGuire, Eden Lake Elementary School, 1st

• Drawing, ink or ballpoint pen – – Sophie McGuire, Eden Lake Elementary School, 1st 

• Drawing, colored pencil – Yesh Gautam, Cedar Ridge Elementary School, 2nd

7th grade

• Drawing, mixed media – Kaysa Kuhn, Eagle Ridge Academy, 2nd

• Painting – acrylic, oil – Kaysa Kuhn, Eagle Ridge Academy, 1st

• Sculpture – Kaysa Kuhn, Eagle Ridge Academy, 2nd

• Weaving and other fibers – Kai Schmitt, Central Middle School, 4th

• Grand prize –  Kaysa Kuhn, Eagle Ridge Academy, 1st

K-12 Competition — Education — Technology Education

7th grade

Photography

• People/portrait – Kai Schmitt, Central Middle School, 4th

• Nature and outdoors – Kai Schmitt, Central Middle School, 1st

• Landscape/cityscape – Kai Schmitt, Central Middle School, 2nd

• Altered/experimental – Kai Schmitt, Central Middle School, 2nd

• Journalism/social media – Kai Schmitt, Central Middle School, 1st

9th grade

Photography

• Nature and outdoors – Bryson Rotz, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• Landscape/cityscape – Lily Lundgren, Southwest Christian High School, 1st

• Landscape/cityscape – Bethie Bristol, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• Landscape/cityscape – Sophie Marshall, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Altered/experimental – Elaina Johnson, Southwest Christian High School, 1st

Group project

• FRC robotics mechanical – Nolan Peterson, Eden Prairie High School, 1st

Sweepstakes

• Technology Education – Lily Lundgren, Southwest Christian High School, 1st

• Group project FRC robotics – Nolan Peterson, Eden Prairie High School, 1st

10th grade

Photography

• People/portrait – Addie Anderson, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• People/portrait – Claire Duncan, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Animal – Claire Duncan, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• Animal – Maria Fahrenkamp, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Nature and outdoors – Jaclyn Brouwer, Southwest Christian High School, 1st

• Nature and outdoors – Grace Cafferata, PIM Arts High School, 2nd

• Nature and outdoors – Kelly Carter, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Landscape/cityscape – Claire Duncan, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• Landscape/cityscape – Keely Sandness, Southwest Christian High School, 3rd

• Landscape/cityscape – Aidan Foss, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Altered/experimental – Grace Cafferata, PIM Arts High School, 1st

• Altered/experimental – Natalie Schmieg, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• Altered/experimental – Claire Duncan, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Journalism/social media – Natalie Schmieg, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

• Journalism/social media – Maria Fahrenkamp, Southwest Christian High School, 3rd

• Journalism/social media – Addie Anderson, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

11th grade

Photography

• People/portrait – Courtney Meyer, Southwest Christian High School, 3rd

• Animal – Mariah Hunt, Southwest Christian High School, 3rd

• Altered/experimental – Wyatt Peterson, Southwest Christian High School, 2nd

11th grade – Special Ed

Photography

• Altered/experimental – Sam Widdifield, Southwest Christian High School, 1st

12th grade

Photography

• Animal – Jesse Erhgott, Southwest Christian High School, 4th

• Altered/experimental – Jesse Erhgott, Southwest Christian High School, 1st