GOT CROPS? Any Dunn County resident can create and submit original seed art to the new Seed Art Contest. With multiple age groups and multiple design categories, winners will have their work exhibited at the Dunn County Fair this July. (Photo via AdobeStock)

The seed of an idea – one organizers hope will grow into an activity that engages the entire community this summer and for years to come – sprouted this spring thanks to Rassbach Museum staff members.

That idea will soon be realized with an inaugural Seed Art Contest. For those who might not know, seed art is a mosaic made with all kinds of seeds, placed on a flat surface.

Melissa Kneeland, executive director of the Rassbach Museum and the Dunn County Historical Society, was one of those staff who came up with the idea. 

“I had participated in an art class that did small seed art designs – it was really fun as well as accessible for all ages – it made me think it would be a great activity for the museum,” Kneeland said.

This activity is also a partnership with the Dunn County Fair (620 17th St. SE, Menomonie), slated to return July 22-26. There, winners of the Seed Art Contest will be displayed for the public to enjoy.

The contest has several categories (and three age groups) to submit artwork: Dunn County Critters (animals that are native to our area) or Natural Landscapes, Historic Scenes and People of Dunn County, and Still Life or Geometric. The submissions will be judged at the Rassbach Museum by the staff and board.

“We wanted to have categories that appealed to all ages and still kept history and Dunn County at the forefront,” Kneeland said. “We are excited to collaborate with them to celebrate our county and our agricultural history.”

The Dunn County Fair is a summertime staple, bringing glorious greasy fair food and carnival rides (pictured), live music, livestock shows and more. This year, winners of the inaugural Seed Art Contest will also be on display.  (Photo by Tim Mather)

All submissions for the Seed Art Contest – open to any Dunn County resident; multiple entries per person are allowed – must be an original design and should be two dimensional (no more than 11 inches on any side).

Online registration is required for each entry via Google Forms. Artworks need to be submitted to the Rassbach Museum, in person, no later than July 1.

Interested seed artists can register their entries online or in person at the Rassbach Museum (1820 John Russell Rd., Menomonie). Specific guidelines and Seed Art Contest information can be viewed in full at the museum's website (www.dunnhistory.org/seedart).