NW MN Arts Council 2014 Spring Art Exhibition Winners

Warren, Minnesota (May 06, 2014) - The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council awarded $2450.00 dollars in prize money to adult and student artists’ at their annual Spring Art Exhibition.  The exhibition was held at the American Legion, Post 444 in Middle River, Minnesota April 16-27, 2014.  100 artists from the 7 county service area participated in this year's event.

Executive Director of NWMAC, Mara Wittman was on hand at the exhibition reception April 27, 2014 to present certificates to the winners.  Beau Bakken of Hallock took 1^stplace in the Adult category for his acrylic painting, “Barcelona Spain” and was awarded $500.00.  The Adult People’s Choice Award went to Deb Aune of Gatzke for her painting, “Dad Loves His Wood Stove”.  She was awarded $100.00.

In the Student category, Bryan Sanchez of Crookston came in 1^st place for his mixed media drawing, titled “Cultural Self Portrait”.  He was awarded $300.00.  The Student People’s Choice Award went to Brooke Panzer of Crookston for her sculpture, “Horsehair Potter”.  She received $50.00.

Many other artists, both adult and student, were recognized for their dedication to their art

ADULT CATEGORY:

1st Place:     $500  Beau Bakken of Hallock “Barcelona, Spain” acrylic painting

 2nd Place:   $300 Deb Aune of Gatzke “Dad Loves His Wood Stove” painting

3rd Place:     $200  Loren Younggren of Hallock “Blizzard Dolly” photograph

 MERIT:        $100  Mollie Rae Miller of Roseau “Primal” painting

 MERIT:        $100 Jan Osborn of Thief River Falls “Settler’s Cabin at Old Mill” drawing

 MERIT:        $100  Irene Bertils of Crookston “Arizona Dusk” pastel

MERIT:         $100 Kathryn Rynning of Kennedy  “Norway’s Mother” photograph

MERIT:         $100 Robin Foster of Red Lake Falls “Dragonfly in B & W” sculpture

PEOPLE’S CHOICE:          $100 Deb Aune, Gatzke  “Dad Loves His Wood Stove” painting

STUDENT CATEGORY:

1st Place:      $300 Bryan Sanchez of Crookston “Cultural Self Portrait” mixed media drawing

 2nd Place:    $150 Morgan Anderson of Middle River “Seahorse” drawing

 3rd Place:     $100 Travis Tabatt of Goodridge “Tree” print-making

 MERIT:         $50 Kyle Caputo of Crookston “Addictions” drawing

 MERIT:         $50 Courtney Boutain of Goodridge “What’s Up Bear” drawing

 MERIT:         $50 Julie Ibanez of Crookston “Burst of Brightness” painting

 MERIT:         $50 Brooke Panzer of Crookston “Horsehair Pottery” sculpture

MERIT:          $50 Emilie Tykward of Grygla “Envy” sculpture

PEOPLE’S CHOICE STUDENT:           $50 Brooke Panzer, Crookston “Horsehair Potter” Sculpture

This program is sponsored in part by funding to the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council by the McKnight Foundation and the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.  The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is one of eleven regional arts councils in the state.  All eleven councils work together with fiscal agents of the Minnesota State Arts Board to provide arts services, staffing, and grants.

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council services Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties and was pleased to have so many adults and students from the service area participate in this event!  The Arts are alive and well in Northwest Minnesota!

IDEA Competition Announces Four Winners for 2013

BEMIDJI, MN – April 24, 2013 – The IDEA Competition announced the names of four 2013 winners on Wednesday, April 24^th at the IDEA awards banquet held at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, Thief River Falls.  Each winner receives $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance. 

The 2013 Winners are:

* Brian & Coreen Berdahl, Red Lake Falls, for Spot-Knot – a fast, easy, and economical on-the-spot slip knot tie device that is the only one of its kind in the fishing industry.

* Dr. Jack V. Lundbohm, Roseau, for Stand Alone Game Calls – an elk hunting call that allows an elk hunter to hunt alone while remotely operating a call that is set up in a second location.

* Tim and Jenny Slukynsky, Warroad, for Lamplighter Hockey – a hockey stick weight that overcomes the weaknesses of other hockey stick training tools on the market today.

* Jerry Titera, Bagley, for Hubmaster Inc. – an innovative tool that helps remove the tapered wheel hub from bobcat skidsteers for routine maintenance and repair.

  

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture. 

The IDEA Hall of Fame added Mark Larson, president and chief operating officer of Digi-Key Corporation, and Ron Stordahl, founder and chief executive officer of Digi-Key Corporation.  The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region’s legacy innovators—those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

In the previous three years, 17 innovators from throughout northwestern Minnesota have received IDEA awards. Their combined economic impact includes:

•  High potential innovations identified, funded, and assisted: seventeen

•  Jobs created or retained as a result: forty-two

•  Job creation projections: fifty or more

•  Total combined sales revenues: more than $5 million

•  Number of loans approved: thirteen

IDEA sponsors are 360◦ Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Arvig, Bremer Bank of Crookston and Warren, Leonard Street and Deinard, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center, and University of Minnesota Crookston.  IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

MN Junior Duck Stamp Winners Announced!

Last month, 18-year-old Cassidy Haggard of Park Rapids, Minn. won best of show honors at the 2013 Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest with her oil painting rendition of a Common Goldeneye. "Quack, quack! Pond Back!" was the winning conservation message submitted by 15-year-old Sophie Olund of St. Paul, Minn.

More than 400 entries were received and 100 winners were selected. Haggard's artwork along with Olund's message will advance to the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest to be held in April at the National Conservation Training Center, Shepardstown, WV.

Special Student honors go to 12-year-old Taylor Sue Rabehl of Wabasha, Minn. Her artwork will be the visual image for promoting the program for 2014. This year's recipient of the Minnesota Teacher Recognition was Kari Halker-Saather from St. Michael-Albertville Senior High School of St. Michael, Minn.

"Minnesota youth are sharing their artistic talents to conserve wildlife and educate others on the importance of our natural resources," said Mara Koenig, Minnesota Coordinator of the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program.

Contest judges included Wildlife Biologist Tom Cooper, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Environmental and Outdoor Education Coordinator Jeff Lederman, MN Department of Education; Assistant Regional Director David Scott, Migratory Birds & State Programs, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; Art Teacher, Mary Pat Simons and Wildlife Biologist Nick Rowse.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is a dynamic educational program designed to spark youth interest in habitat conservation through science, art, math, and technology. Students in kindergarten through high school are encouraged to interpret the natural world through artistic expression. By providing a basis for participation in the Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, the activities encourage students to move beyond simply "learning about" wildlife and wildlife art to testing their abilities as wildlife artists.

For more information on the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program visit: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

IDEA Competition Winners for 2012

BEMIDJI, MN – April 26, 2012 – The IDEA Competition announced the names of five 2012 winners on Wednesday, April 25^th at the IDEA awards banquet held at the Sanford Center, Bemidji.  Each winner receives $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance. 

The 2012 Winners are:

* Jay Fisher & James Marvin, Warroad, for Eleven Hockey -- Hockey stick manufacturer in Warroad that offers custom, unique, and historical hockey stick products.

* Mark Landes & Jennifer DeBarr, Bemidji, for Shield Snip -- Innovative hand tool to simplify the process of trimming STP and coaxial shield quickly and precisely.

* William & Julia Stephani, Puposky, for Slot Rail Fence -- Revolutionary way to construct a stronger and more-appealing wooden rail fence that is easier for DIYs to build than what is currently offered in the market. 

* Brady & Jodi Dyrdahl, Shevlin, for  The Sidekick -- Snowmobile work stand that stabilizes the sled, making it easier to perform repairs and enhancements underneath the snowmobile.

* Jeff Sullivan, Bemidji, for Varimax Evaporator -- Precision evaporative technology for environmentally responsible and cost effective disposal of surplus industrial and agricultural waste water.

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture. 

The IDEA Hall of Fame added William S. “Bill” Marvin, founder of Marvin Windows and Doors in Warroad.  The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region’s legacy innovators—those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

In the previous three years, 13 innovators from throughout northwestern Minnesota have received IDEA awards. Their combined economic impact includes:

· Ten winners reaching commercialization

· Total sales $4.3 million

· Creation of  23 jobs and estimate the creation of at least 50 more jobs

· 13 loans have been approved

The next IDEA competition opens in September, 2012.  Northwest Minnesota innovators are encouraged to consider entering the next round of competition.  For more information, visit the IDEA website:  www.ideacompetition.org.

IDEA sponsors are Bremer Bank, Crookston and Warren, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, 360◦ Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Headwaters Regional Development Commission, Northwest Regional Development Commission, and University of Minnesota, Crookston.  Additional partners include Ingenuity Frontier, Bemidji State University, Enterprise Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, and Northland Community and Technical College.  IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

2011 IDEA Winners Announced

CROOKSTON, MN – May 18, 2011 -- The IDEA Competition announced its four 2011 winners on Tuesday, May 17 in Crookston at an awards banquet held on the University of Minnesota, Crookston campus. Two of the winners – Craft Night Out and Grand Steer – are located in Thief River Falls. The other two winners – EquipAll GrappleHoe and LaValley Industries LLC – are located in Bemidji. Each winner will receive $10,000 in cash to advance their business idea, plus additional specialized technical assistance.

Craft Night Out (CNO) is owned by Kristine Goddard-Anderson and Elizabeth Petersen. Their innovative business model brings the joy of crafting to the home-party setting, turning the home-party sales model on its head. It eliminates in-home sales and instead, creates a pre-party, web-based sales model. Complete craft kits, pre-selected by each guest, will be shipped direct to the party hostess with all the supplies needed to create the projects together at the craft party. Kits can also be purchased for individual use. Craft Night Out takes the focus off the sales pitch and gives women more time for fun, creativity and connection with friends.

Grand Steer owners Fred Hartmann, Chuck Odegaard, and Al Aaseby have developed the Turn@bout, an add-on piece of equipment for pallet jacks that greatly enhances their function and maneuverability. On its own, a pallet jack can be difficult and time consuming to maneuver into position without kicking or lifting the front of the jack, but with a set of Turn@bout’s installed, the turning radius is cut in half, eliminating most handling difficulties, wasted time and safety issues.

The EquipAll GrappleHoe, owned by Jeff Sullivan and Arnold Kleinsasser, is described as very likely the most useful multi-purpose tool you can put on a skidsteer. The EquipAll GrappleHoe offers a unique combination of two of the most common attachments: the grapple for grabbing & carrying, and the backhoe for digging and trenching. This single, unique tool can be used for stump removal, septic systems, demolition, burn piles, log handling, rocks, concrete & asphalt chunks, grub rake, fence post removal, hay bales, rip-rap, water lines, foundation footings, trenching electric cables, water lines to eight feet deep, and much more.

LaValley Industries LLC, owned by Jason LaValley, Jorge Prince and Roger LaValley, has designed the PIPEMATE, which will work in conjunction with an automatic welding unit to dramatically improve both the speed and safety of the tie-in welding process for the pipeline industry. It is anticipated that the automated process of the PIPEMATE will cut the time spent on the tie-in process by 75%, while removing all field personnel from the dangerous work in the trenches. It is also expected to lower labor costs by reducing the need for at least two field workers in any tie-in process.

The IDEA Hall of Fame added two Northwest Minnesota innovators: Glen Brazier, founder of MATTRACKS, and Dennis Brazier, founder of Central Boiler, were inducted at the banquet. The IDEA Hall of Fame was established to recognize the accomplishments of the region’s legacy innovators—those within the region who have inspired others with their entrepreneurial vision, leadership and achievement.

The next IDEA competition opens in September, 2011. Northwest Minnesota innovators are encouraged to consider entering the next round of competition. For more information, visit the IDEA website: www.ideacompetition.org.

Round One IDEA Winners Announced

Bemidji, MN – January 18, 2011-- Seventeen ideas with the potential to be profitable business ventures were recently advanced to round two of the IDEA Competition. Round one of the competition closed December 31 and judges reviewed all submissions in early January.

The 17 winners were chosen from a wide geographic area. "We received applications from all over the region – Argyle, Bagley, Bemidji, Crookston, Fosston, Lake Bronson, McIntosh, Nevis, Park Rapids, Thief River Falls, and Warroad," said Michelle Landsverk, project coordinator. "We were extremely pleased with the quality of all the applications that we saw this year. Northwest Minnesota is truly a region of innovators."

The round one winners will now advance to the second round, for which they will have to submit a more detailed plan, due by February 28, 2011. From there, a panel of judges will select the finalists who will compete in the last round. The final judging takes place May 10. Up to five winners will each receive $10,000 to advance their innovative idea.

The main goal of the IDEA competition is to assist the most promising local entrepreneurs in the commercialization of innovative products, processes and deliveries by connecting them to the best resources available, along with access to the capital it takes to launch a successful venture.

The IDEA Competition is a project of Ingenuity Frontier, a collaboration of partners joined by a common purpose — to grow the economy of Northwest Minnesota by outfitting the next generation of homegrown innovators for success in the global marketplace. IDEA sponsors are 360º Center for Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of Excellence, Bremer Banks of Crookston and Warren, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, University of Minnesota, Crookston, and the Northwest Regional Small Business Development Center. IDEA was made possible through a generous grant from the Blandin Foundation.

Innovators who missed this year’s entry deadline are encouraged to continue refining their business ideas and enter the competition next year in September. For more information on the competition, visit the IDEA website: www.ideacompetition.org.