MOUNT MORRIS – The Seventh Annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition, closed out the final weekend with Straw Fest Saturday, Aug. 27^th on Mt. Morris Campus.

Four new 2022 “Fine Art in Straw” sculptures, along with 16 additional sculptures from past years, will remain on display for all to enjoy sunrise to sunset through Sept. 11^th.

Winners for the annual event were determined by Public and Artists Voting.

* ‘Sunday Bath’ by Steve Lentz of Montello, Wis., 1^st Place People’s and 1^st Place Artist’s Choice,

* ‘The Catch’ by Juan Zelaya, Hoffman Estates, Ill., 2^nd Place People’s and 2^nd Place Artist’s Choice, 

* ‘The Hero Within’ by Doreen White & Friends, Foreston, 3^rd Place People’s Choice

* ‘Die Schnecke’ by Chris & Cecillia Mann, Rockford, 3^rd Place Artist’s Choice

The annual ‘Straw Bale Races in the Street’ had eight, two-person teams rolling round bales 75 feet for time. Each team rolled a preliminary round to establish a bracket for the races. Working their way through the quarter finals, semi-finals and final race, the team of Tyler Willman and Levi Schuler, both of Pine Creek, won the event. They also had the fastest roll of the day with a blistering 8.91 seconds in the semi-final round.

Straw Fest also included Blacksmith Demos, Wild Bulls – Mechanical Bull Riding, Rustic Ridge – Ax Throwing, a new Crafter’s Market, Straw Sculpting Awards and more. ‘Brass From The Past’, a Classic Rock and Soul band from Chicago, wrapped up the evening with a standing ovation performance on the Band Shell.

The Eighth Annual U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition will be Aug. 11-27^th, 2023 with Straw Fest on Saturday, Aug. 26^th on the Mt. Morris Campus.

ENCORE! Mt. Morris, a cultural initiative of Mt. Morris Economic Development Corp, is funded by public donations. Learn more at EncoreMtMorris.com.