Trash art for yards judged at county, state fairs
By LINDA CHION KENNEY
For more than a decade, fledgling and experienced artists of all ages have been turning recyclable materials into unique yard art for display and judging at the Hillsborough County Fair.
A similar yard-art contest, open to all ages, is held annually at the Florida State Fair, which next year is set to run Feb. 6-17. Both contests feature 2- and 3-dimensional artwork created from items already used for their original purposes.
“Every year I am amazed, surprised and excited by the creativity of every age group,” said Lynn Barber, long-time contest organizer, who works as a horticulture agent for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Services and its UF/IAS Extension in Hillsborough County.
“As for me, I wouldn’t even be able to come up with some of these ideas,” Barber added. “I’m overwhelmed by every single entry.”
While entries are sought for the Florida State Fair, extension officials are keeping on display through Dec. 8, at their offices in Seffner, the winning works from the Hillsborough County Fair, held in October at the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds in Dover.
This year’s People’s Choice winner — determined after a tally of 2,372 ballots — went to Jim Dreby, for his “Minion Riding a Scooter,” created with a muffler pipe, Freon jugs and a broken scooter.
First-place ribbons in the adult and elementary and high school categories, respectively, were awarded to Andy Hamilton, for his bedpan bird; Maximus Clary, for his wind chime planter; and Alexa Weston, for her blue heron sculpture.
Hamilton dressed up his bedpan using a ricer, marbles, rebar and horseshoes. Clary, for her planter, dressed up a broken wind chime using a colander, necklace, rope and welcome sign. Weston’s blue heron came to life with plastic bags, boxes, bottle caps, containers, chicken wire and sticks.
There was no middle school ribbon awarded this year.
As Barber sees it, the benefits of yard-art contests go beyond the colorful displays that brighten county fair booths. “We want to increase environmental awareness and to encourage the reuse and recycling of materials,” she said. “And if you do that, you might as well make them into some kind of yard art.”
The movement to create art out of trash has taken root and is growing, providing “a good amount of income for people who do this for a living,” Barber said.
Moreover, “people today, regardless of age, are more concerned about environmental issues and recycling instead of throwing things out,” she added. “If you can repurpose discarded items for something else, that’s a win-win for all.”
Winning yard-art projects are on display at the UF/IAS Extension, Hillsborough County offices in Seffner, at 5339 County Road 579.
There, as well, is the Bette S. Walker Discover Garden that reflects the nine principles for a “Florida-Friendly Landscape.” For people who want to make landscape changes, this allows them “to see plants in a setting, as opposed to in a book,” Barber said. “We’re trying to make everybody a successful gardener.”
Florida-Friendly Landscape Principles include putting the right plant in the right place. Also, to water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, mulch, attract wildlife, manage yard pests responsibly, reduce storm-water runoff, protect the waterfront and recycle yard (and kitchen) waste.
For more on extension services, visit: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough or call 813-744-5519. For information about the upcoming Florida State Fair Recycled Yard Art Contest, contact Lisa Meredith at meredithL@hcflgov.net or call 813-744-5519, ext. 54146.
The Florida State Fairgrounds is at 4802 North U.S. Hwy. 301, Tampa. For more information, visit floridastatefair.com.