Minnesota State Fair's Crop Art Competition Runs in Richfield Woman's Blood

Becky Seaman and her family have been displaying crop art at the Minnesota State Fair for so many years the practice may seem not so much a hobby as a heritage.

Seaman, 33, has been submitting pieces of crop art—which is art made with seeds or plants found in Minnesota—to the fair since she was just 6 years old, and has competed alongside her mother, sister, great aunt and numerous cousins. The Star Tribune wondered in a 2010 article whether Darlene Thorud, Seaman’s great-aunt, might not be the reigning “queen of crop art.”

While Seaman doesn’t want to compete with her relative, she has four pieces on display in four different categories this year. Crop art is displayed in the ag-hort complex on Judson Avenue and Underwood Street, near the scarecrow displays. This year also marks the first time both of Seaman's sons are showing their own crop art. Five-year-old son Shiloh and 3-year-old son Jonah have images on display in the competition’s juniors section this year.

“Jonah wanted to do 'Cat in the Hat,' but because of his age I wanted something simpler,” Seaman said. “So he just did the hat of 'Cat in the Hat.’”

Shiloh’s picture of “Iron Man” hangs near his younger brother’s Dr. Seuss-inspired work.

While Seaman grew up in south Minneapolis, she and husband Jerry moved to Richfield because of its affordability. She works at Hillcrest Childcare Center in Bloomington.

Along with her children Seaman and her husband are active members of Cedar Valley Church in Bloomington. A longtime sports fan, Seaman tries her best to keep up with Minnesota Twins and Wild. The family also tries to spend as much time as possible at a cabin owned by Becky Seaman's parents, and the family is anticipating Shiloh beginning kindergarten at Seven Hills Academy in September.

Seaman expects she will continue making crop art to submit to the 2012 Minnesota State Fair.
 
“I just find it calming,” Seaman said.

While Seaman realizes that some people might find crop art monotonous, she doesn't.

She said: “I’ve grown up doing it, so it’s just something that’s always been a part of me.”