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.
Terri Endres won several awards in the Bee & Honey category, including a 2nd place for her 12 ounce plastic squeeze bear containers. 
Terri Endres’ round comb section honey won a category 1st place and a 4th place in Sweepstakes. 
Monica Vogel’s challah won a 3rd place ribbon in the honey yeast breads category. 
Riley Sugarbush’s winning maple syrup entries glow amidst the competition. Photo courtesy of John Bushey
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
Prairie View student Meg Schmitt with one of her prize-winning artworks. Photo courtesy of Melissa Schmitt 
Central Middle School student Kai Schmitt with three of his winning photographs. Photo courtesy of Melissa Schmitt 
Daniel Volenec’s “Tomorrow” won a 3rd place ribbon and the Minnesota Artists Association Award. 
Photograph by Southwest Christian’s Addie Anderson. 
Cedar Ridge 5th grader Yesh Gautam’s 2nd place entry. 
Eden Lake 5th grader Sophie McGuire used markers to draw this 1st place entry. 
Award-winning photographs by PIM Arts High School’s Grace Cafferata (top center), Southwest Christian’s Claire Duncan (top left and bottom center) and Maria Fahrenkamp (bottom right). 
Southwest Christian 9th grader Lily Lundgren’s entry won a 1st place as well as the sweepstakes award in the Technology Education K-12 competition. 
Kimber Olson’s “Blood Moon” is displayed in the Fine Arts building. 
Susan Welle Felix’s oil on canvas titled “Peace and Justice” is displayed in the Fine Arts building. 
Karen Knutsen’s watercolor on paper titled “Close to my Heart” won the Victor Gilbertson Watercolor Award. 
Former EPHS teacher Jeff Parker had his work titled “Provincetown” displayed in the Fine Arts building. 
One of Southwest Christian High School’s Jesse Erhgott’s winning entries.
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
Comments
We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.