3rd annual Recycled Garden Art Contest winners announced

PALMER — A panel of judges selected winners Aug. 31 in this year’s third annual Recycled Garden Art Contest, sponsored by Valley Community for Recycling Solutions at the Alaska State Fair.

Seven pieces were entered in the contest, which took place at the VCRS Education Booth and entries were displayed throughout the fair.

People’s Choice was voted on by fairgoers the first 10 days of the fair and those votes also were tabulated Aug. 31. Award ribbons, handmade by VCRS staff from previously used waterproof materials, were displayed on the winning entries for the remainder of the fair.

• First place: “Flower Spectacular,” created by Bill Campbell; a colorful assortment of flowers made of used steel cans mounted on an aged wood frame.

• Second place: “Tinkers’ Chimes,” created by Susan McNeil; a large metal frame hung with a variety of objects, including a cooking pot, napkin rings and old pipes, which clang and chime melodiously.

• Third place: “Tin Lizzie,” created by Korey “Curly” Packer; an antique truck made from file cabinets, old wagon wheels, gold pans, mattress frame, metal coffee cups and various discarded tools.

• People’s Choice: “Bottle Greenhouse,” a usable greenhouse made of 2-liter plastic bottles, PVC pipes, an old window, screen door and used lumber made by Mary and Stewart Gail. More than 2,300 fairgoers participated in selecting the People’s Choice.

The panel of judges included VCRS board member Randy Robinson and avid recycling community members Judy Lewis, Jo Weller and Larry McGee.