Released: March 15, 2002

Quenemo Woman Wins State Easter Egg Decorating Contest

MANHATTAN, Kan. – A Quenemo woman who learned art from a neighbor more than 20 years ago has been named the 2002 winner of the Kansas Easter Egg decorating contest, sponsored by the Kansas Poultry Association.

As Kansas’ winner this year, Deloris Schoepflin’s entry will be displayed at the White House in Washington, D.C. this Easter, alongside other state winners. The egg also will become part of a permanent collection at the Smithsonian Institute in the nation’s capital.

The egg that Schoepflin painted depicts a grain elevator framed by the rolling Kansas prairie, and a steam train rumbling nearby. Another side of the egg shows an old church on the prairie, sunflowers, wheat, an old wagon wheel and a blue sky.

There is special significance to some of the items painted on the egg. The church is one that Schoepflin’s father attended at one time. Her husband, Dewayne, used to work at a grain elevator, and she added that she has always lived near train tracks.

Schoepflin said her training in art has included "a couple of Saturday art workshops at Allen County Community College .... mostly, I’m a self-taught artist and have a huge how-to library to prove it. I learned to work in every medium, but must say that oil painting landscapes will always be my favorite."

She took her first art classes in 1980 from a neighbor, Marge Murphy.

She said, like most others, she’s decorated eggs, "but never painted an actual picture on one."

"I’ve painted other objects, though," Schoepflin said. "I’ve painted lots of glass ornaments [which is] very similar to painting a real egg."

As Kansas’ winner, Schoepflin received $300 that she is using toward a trip to Washington, D.C. to see her egg displayed. She said that she and Dewayne will make the trip with other state winners in late March.

The Schoepflins are lifelong residents of Osage County. The couple has been married 36 years, and have four sons and seven grandchildren. For 25 years, they have volunteered as 4-H leaders of the Michigan Valley 4-H Club. Doris has been the 4-H arts and crafts leader for more than 20 years.

"My real love is sharing art by teaching it," she said. "I’ve had as many as 25 students at one time from our club and area clubs. Last year, I taught an adult oil painting class at our church. I also teach a creative class for kids at our church."

One of Schoepflin’s current students, nine-year-old 4-Her Hailey Clemons, placed fifth in this year’s egg decorating contest.

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Story by:
Pat Melgares, News Coordinator
pmelgare@oznet.ksu.edu
K-State Research& Extension News