PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
October 10, 2006 www.agr.ne.gov		Contact: Christin Kamm (402) 471-6856

LINCOLN - Carolyn Rix of Fremont is the winner of the 2007 White House Easter Egg Artistry Contest organized by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Egg Division, in conjunction with the American Egg Board.

Rix's egg has been sent to the American Egg Board, and will represent Nebraska at the 2007 Easter Egg Display at the White House. One egg from each state and the District of Columbia will make up the display.

To create her depiction of Nebraska, Rix used a Ukrainian egg decorating technique of a dye/wax relief (batik), commonly used in Pysanky. Featured on the egg was a "Cornhusker Quilt" representing calicos of cows, corn, Chimney Rock, Sandhills Cranes and Arbor Day trees, with prints of pioneers, pigs and patriotism to honor the heritage of Nebraska.

Rix's egg was chosen from an assortment of eggs entered by amateur Nebraska artists. Second place went to Veronica Kiuntke of Columbus. Depicted on her acrylic painted egg was the Villasur Massacre that occurred in 1720 near the confluence of the Loup and Platte rivers near Columbus. The figures painted on the egg are from the oldest known painting of a Nebraska subject (on three buffalo skins).

Third place went to Jennifer Bartling of Fremont. "Nebraska, The Heart of the Heartland" was the theme of this egg that depicted the world, and featured Nebraska in the heartland of America. The entire egg was decorated with lace.

Each artist decorated a large, blown-out chicken egg to depict special feature(s) of Nebraska. Each entry was displayed for public viewing and voting at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall in Lincoln during August and September.

To view photos of entries from this year's 2007 Nebraska contest for the 2007 White House Easter Egg Artistry display, visit the Poultry and Egg Division's web site at: www.nebraskapoultry.org/photos/egg/07contest.htm