News : Wittmer places again in State Fair concrete painting contest

'Neigh-ture' was the theme of Angie Wittmer's 2nd-place concrete horse at the Iowa State Fair.

For the fourth year in a row, Angie Wittmer of rural Vinton has placed in the Iowa State Fair's concrete painting contest.

This year, the concrete statues were horses; Wittmer's design entitled "Neigh-ture," which included a variety of flowers and other images representing nature, earned second place in the amateur division.

Wittmer finished in first place last year, with her design on the Iowa-shaped concrete. Previous shapes were ice cream cones, ribbons and cows.

This year's project, she said, took more than 60 hours to paint.

"This is my favorite one," she said. "It is definitely the most complicated one I have done so far. I was very happy with how it turned out."

As someone who looks forward to the announcement of the contest each year, Wittmer says she had an idea "right away" when she learned that she would be painting a horse for the 2015 State Fair.

"I know I am in trouble when I have an idea right away, because I know I will commit to painting for another year. It really is extremely time-consuming," she says. I take an entire week off work to devote to painting."

In her fifth year of entering the contest, Wittmer now has one first place honor and three second place awards.

"I do love doing it even though I am usually scrambling to finish it by the time I have to haul it to Des Moines to be judged," she says.

After the State Fair, the horse will return to the Wittmer farm, where it will find a place in the house, away from the elements.

See a story about Angie's previous winning entries HERE.

Click HERE for a map showing the location of the concrete horses at the State Fair.

About the contest, and winners:

This year, 43 applicants were selected to paint a 3 1/4 foot concrete horse for display throughout the grounds at the 2015 Iowa State Fair. Contest winners are:

Professional -

1st Place: Tribute to the Working Horse by Missy Sharer-Pieters (Messy Missy's Studio & Sharer Farms)

2nd Place: #IowasFinest by Emma Palmer assisted by Matt Palmer

3rd Place: Unspoken Friendships by Kathy Stevens (Art by Kat sponsored by Circuit Master CB)

Honorable Mention (in no particular order):

Buena Vista Campus Tour by Buena Vista University

Blue Ribbon Foundation's Filly by Sticks Inc.

Novice -

1st Place: Nothing Compares to Small Town Schools by Angela Davidson (Martensdale St. Mary's School District)

2nd Place:"Neigh"ture by Angie Wittmer

3rd Place:Jewels by Rammie Brafford Goemaat sponsored by Herman's Fine Jewelry

Honorable Mention:

Captain A"Mare"ica by Carter Cooley

The Palmers and the Rasmussens, 69 and 71 years at the Fair, Manilla, IA, Happy Campers

American Spirit by Pamela Kline and Kennedy Rorebeck

Making a Mark with the Magic of Memories by Margaret Eshelman and Betty Backstrom

The Furrow by the Damman Family