Bonnie Dorner of West Point was the winner of the 2003 White House Easter Egg Artistry Contest organized by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Poultry and Egg Division, in conjunction with the American Egg Board.

To create her depiction of Nebraska, Dorner spelled out "Nebraska" in gold letters and ruby crystals on a glittery background. Inside the cut, jeweled egg is an outline of the state, with the State Capitol, and a tiny ear of corn.

Dorner's egg was sent to the American Egg Board, which worked with the White House in creating the 2003 Easter Egg Display. One egg from each state and the District of Columbia made up the White House Easter Egg Display. Dorner's egg was chosen from an assortment of eggs entered by amateur Nebraska artists.

Second place went to Vicky Gellinger of Bancroft. Gellinger's painted egg expressed The Good Life of Nebraska with scenes of a farm; a beef steer; stock of corn; a farm family; a church; the State Capitol; a Sandhills Crane; the State Bird, Western Meadowlark; a sailboat on Lake McConaughy; Chimney Rock; a covered wagon, with the American flag draped among them. Roger Maller from Oakland received third place. Maller painted a farm scene at sunset that included a red barn and silo, a farmhouse and windmill. Maller was a previous winner of the Egg Artistry Contest. His painted egg represented Nebraska at the White House at Easter in 2001.

Each artist decorated a large, blown-out chicken egg to depict special feature(s) of Nebraska. In this and previous years, artists adorned eggs with painted and dyed landscapes and symbols as well as feathers, grains and beads. The entries were displayed for public viewing and voting at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Morrill Hall, in Lincoln during August and September.

To view photos of the 2003 White House Easter Egg Display, visit the White House's web site at: www.whitehouse.gov/easter/state_eggs.html

1st Place   Bonnie Dorner, West Point	2nd Place   Vicky Gellinger, Osceola
3rd Place   Roger Maller, Oakland	Courtney Sehn, Omaha
Veronica Kiuntke, Columbus	Pat Ruge, Walthill
Ellen Zvolanek, Wymore	D. Michelle Bader, Lincoln
Jean Pedersen, Lincoln	Luella Philippi, Sterling
Sharon Krumland, Creston	Rebecca Dutcher, Culbertson
Diane Pratt, Lincoln