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NAPPANEE - Two newcomers garnered the top prizes at the 36th annual Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival in Nappanee.
The festival began Thursday, with rains subsiding in time for the crowds to arrive, but overnight storms left the grounds rather muddy. Some sprinkles continued to threaten throughout the day, but that didn't deter festival-goers, who scoured the tents despite the weather.
Winner of the three-dimensional best of show prize, Joseph Owens of Reading, Pa., said that he had a lake inside his booth, but his excitement at winning the first prize in his career at this festival kept his spirits from being dampened.
Owens, who is at the festival for the first time, won the best of show prize in his category for an entry titled "Nails in Bloom." Owens' art consists of pounding nails into wood, making various configurations. The nail heads are then painted, and the result is a floral bouquet.
Judge Max Gwin of Nappanee said that Owens' artwork was "exceptionally unique ... I don't know how he did it."
Owens explained it simply: "Just start at the bottom and work your way up or you'll be in the funny farm before long."
Owens was quite excited with his win, but attributes his success to his mother, who came up with the idea many years ago. One of eight children, Owens' mother got them all started on the nail flowers to keep them busy when they were young. He said that he and a brother are the only two who still do it. "I've got a degree in marketing and I pound nails for a living," he said.
The two-dimensional best of show winner was equally as excited about winning the top prize in his category.
Rich Ernsting's transparent watercolor, "Thingamajig," was painted from an item he once saw at the Indiana State Fair.
One of the judges guessed the item Ernsting painted was some type of combine. "I don't know what it is," said Ernsting, of Indianapolis, "but when I saw it, it fascinated me." That fascination apparently appealed to the judges, too. Hence, the choice of best of show.
For their efforts, each artist was awarded a purple best of show ribbon and a check for $1,000.
Ernsting also won first-place in the watercolor paintings category, earning a blue ribbon and a check for $200. That entry is titled "Chust for Nice."
The judges made their choices from more than 1,000 entries - three from each of the 365 booths at this year's festival.
In all, 44 ribbons were awarded, with first-, second- and third-place ribbons awarded in 11 categories, as well as three prizes in the total booth presentation best of marketplace.
Winners of the most popular marketplace and most popular competition awards, judged by festival-goers, will be announced Sunday.
The festival continues today through Sunday, with hours 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to the arts and crafts booths, there are three stages of ongoing entertainment, as well as daily presentations of "My Fair Lady" and "Plain & Fancy" in the Round Barn Theatre. Also, there's lots of festival food, as well as dining in the Amish Acres Family-Style Restaurant.
The festival was once again named among the top 200 festivals in the nation - the only Indiana festival to earn such an honor - in "Sunshine Artist Magazine."
Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free. Amish Acres is on U.S. 6, one mile west of Nappanee. Parking is free.
For more information, call 800-800-4942 or 773-4188.
