Minnesotans are honoring the late Rep. Melissa Hortman at the State Fair in a uniquely fair way: through crop art.
Minnesotans are honoring the late Rep. Melissa Hortman at the State Fair in a uniquely fair way: through crop art.
One of Hortman’s colleagues, Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul), was among several Minnesotans who had the idea and chose to honor Hortman this way.
Hollins told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that she decided soon after Hortman was killed in June that she wanted to do something at the fair to honor her.
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After roughly two to three weeks of work with a laundry list of seeds and beans, she completed the tribute.
“It really was a meditation today because I was feeling so much grief and overwhelmed. And so this allowed me the opportunity to sit by myself and sort of look at her face every single day and work on it,” Hollins said.
That piece is now displayed for all to see alongside the other crop art in the Agriculture and Horticulture building at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Hollins says she hopes it reminds all who see it of Hortman’s legacy.
