Now that spring is here, it is a good time to take a look back at the winter we endured and enjoyed, including the results of The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge.
During this first annual event in Lanesboro, Minn., organizer David Applen states that people had fun, which is what it’s all about.
Applen explains, “the reason I wanted to do this is because in the winter there is not much to do,” compared to other times of the year and he says, “if you can go out with your families” and have fun you will also create memories.
The directions for The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge are simple: “Build a snow sculpture of whatever you like. Be creative! The only rule is to have fun. After you’ve taken the picture, upload to one of the sites listed below. At the end of the competition, a committee will decide on the winners,” explains a flyer on the event.
If a person does not have access to a camera or a computer they could contact Applen to get a photo taken and uploaded on the sites which include The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge on Facebook, and #lanesborosnowart.
The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge is open to anyone who lives in Lanesboro because, “We’re all kids at heart and we need to have some winter fun!” states advertising for the event.
The challenge will begin each fall/winter when the snow starts and continues into the next year until March 15. At that time a group of judges vote secretly to choose the winners. The judges included David and Laurie Applen, Jeff and Hollie Lepper, Sue Betts, Barb Jeffers, and Kim Berekvam.
Prizes included first place – $300 and a traveling trophy, second place – $200, third place – $100, and Most Unique – $200.
In its first year, The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge brought a lot of families outside, which resulted in photos of many sculptures.
Winners of The Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge 2017 are listed below.
First place honors went to siblings Delia Bell and Judson Bell, children of Don and Anna Bell, who built a large egg out of snow, set a live chicken on top of it, and also placed a nest of straw underneath the egg. They named their snow sculpture “Proud Mother,” which is very fitting. Both Delia and Judson say they will be entering a piece of snow art again next year.
These two top finishers will relish the traveling trophy until the next champion is crowned – unless they take the top prize again next year!
Second place went to Ellen Nelson, who created an impressive bright green Brontosaurus Long Neck named “Harold” who also had blue spots on his back and certainly did have a long neck!
Third place was presented to five-year-old Lauren Schultz, daughter of Matt and Stacey Schultz. Her uncle, Greg Slominski from Bozeman, Mont., saw Lauren’s creativity come out while he assisted in building the snow art Lauren named “Frostina Snowflake.”
The title for Most Unique snow art went to Andy Sobota and Shonda Tohm, who sculpted an Easter Island statue, called a Moai, out of snow and colored it a medium shade of brown, making it look like stone.
Photos of the winning snow art as well as other entries can be seen at facebook.com/thegreatlanesborosnowartchallenge.
David Applen and his wife Laurie created snow art in their own yard, which they did not enter into the contest but did it just for the fun of it.
Applen would like to thank all of those who built snow art for the first annual Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge and hopes everyone enjoyed themselves.
He also wishes to thank the judges who were involved in the challenge and voting on the many different entry photos that were submitted, and also to Dennis Solberg of Solberg Welding in Harmony, Minn., for making the traveling trophy for the yearly challenge.
Special thanks go to the many Lanesboro businesses for their generous donations. These include Grandma’s Inn, Root River Saloon, Windy Mesa Jewelry, S & A Petroleum, Gil B’s, Amish Experience and E2 Boutique, Krage Insurance Agency, Granny’s Liquor, Lanesboro Art Center, Cottage House Inn, Another Time, Mrs. B’s Inn, Little River General Store, The Black Crow, The Cracked Egg, Scenic Design, Planet Brick and the Corner Grocery Store, Old Village Hall, Emil Farquart and Vis Plumbing & Heating.
Applen says to look for the second annual Great Lanesboro Snow Art Challenge and even though the weather is getting warmer, it is never too early to begin planning your snow sculptures!
Leave a Reply