Tess Wolke, a fifth-grader this year, won a ribbon for her fourth-grade artwork from Hilltop Primary School.
Click on the above image for more photos of ribbon winning art pieces.

September 12, 2024 — Student artists from Hilltop and Shirley Hills primary schools, as well as Grandview Middle School, participated in the annual art competition at the Minnesota State Fair this summer. Westonka Public Schools has historically had a high number of ribbon winners at the fair, and this year was no exception. Westonka students brought home dozens of ribbons, despite stiff competition from across the state.

Artworks that are of exceptional quality and/or innovative are chosen by district art teachers for the state exhibit. Each year, the art department enters dozens of pieces in a range of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, and even digital art. All the district’s art teachers were proud of their students’ success.

"Westonka students created some totally expressive, wildly imaginative, and breathtakingly beautiful art this past school year!” said Hilltop art teacher Klair Hans. “We submitted all kinds of artworks—weavings, ceramics, sculptures, paintings, drawings, collages, and more. There were landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, still lifes, animals, and even robots! The art department takes great pride in our students' hard work and creativity and loves to display it for millions of state fair visitors to see!"

"This year Shirley Hills artists worked incredibly hard to make their dreams and visions a reality,” said art teacher Alyssa Bodine. “Our self-portraits, landscapes, clay forms and dioramas impressed the judges at the Minnesota State Fair. We are so proud of all our artists and the outstanding work they continue to create."

Grandview art teacher Hannah Barth said visiting the artwork is her favorite thing to do at the fair each summer. “Seeing people sharing their gifts and stories is inspiring and uplifting,” she said.

Congratulations to all of this year's award-winning artists!

List of Hilltop Ribbon Winners

List of Shirley Hills Ribbon Winners

List of Grandview Ribbon Winners