PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
October 16, 2007 www.agr.ne.gov		Contact: Christin Kamm (402) 471-6856 (402) 440-7251 (cell)

LINCOLN - Lori Griepenstroh of Lincoln has won top honors in the 2008 White House Easter Egg Artistry Contest organized by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Egg Division, in conjunction with the American Egg Board.

Griepenstroh's egg has been sent to the American Egg Board, and will represent Nebraska at the 2008 Easter Egg Display at the White House. One egg from each state and the District of Columbia will make up the yearly display.

To create her depiction of Nebraska, Griepenstroh cut out the opening of the egg that was outlined with the letters of Nebraska. The egg, representing Nebraska's vast agricultural industry, has real corn and wheat with silk sunflowers adorning it while tiny farm animals are featured inside.

Griepenstroh's egg was chosen from an assortment of eggs entered by amateur Nebraska artists. Second place went to Lisa Eicke of Bennington. Eicke used ink and watercolor to represent the wide diversity of Nebraska including the Sandhills Cranes, 4-H, Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, the Henry Doorly Zoo and various representations of Omaha are featured.

Courtney Masek of Valparaiso received third place. Masek's acrylic-painted egg depicted a farm scene at sunset that included a barn, silo, cows, and a farmer on his tractor.

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

To view photos of all the entries visit the Poultry and Egg Division website at: www.nebraskapoultry.org/photos/egg/08contest.htm