The Indiana State fair took place this month down in Indianapolis. This year was particularly special for the state, as it is Indiana’s 200^th anniversary, its bicentennial, since becoming a state in 1816. In honor of this, the Indiana Association of United Way hosted a “bison-tennial”. They asked each county to create a bison to be put on display.

The Noble County Public Library asked East Noble to create the bison that would represent Noble County. Art teacher Mrs. Leslie asked four East Noble students who she felt were capable of the challenge to do it as an advanced painting project. The students responsible for this work were Carmen Johnson, Katie Hines, Maya Gay, and Julia Moore.

They worked in collaboration with Noble County Public Library to create the design that would be submitted. They requested that it geared to books and reading and fun for children. The final design focused on fantasy and popular books, such as “Narnia”, “Harry Potter”, “Alice in Wonderland”, and many more. The front half of the bison is realistic with the fantasy and creative design done on the back half.  They’re a design was the one selected to one that would be painted onto the county’s bison. They beat out other designs submitted in the county.

Johnson, Hines, Gay, and Moore worked on this project for seven weeks during the third trimester of the 2015-2016 school year. “I was really impressed by our students that completed it. It was a lot of in-depth planning with their client… and a time table that was shorter than planned on. They seemed to have a lot of fun doing it,” said Mrs. Leslie. The bison is quite impressive, with its head at the shoulder height of several of its creators and the art depicted on it very well done.

The bison was put on display at the Indiana State Fair, along with the other counties’ bison. It was up for the award of People’s Choice. Voting lasted the duration of the state fair, from August 5^th through August 21^st. “I voted,” said Mrs. Leslie. The Noble country bison did not win the award, unfortunately.

With the conclusion of the fair, the bison will be on display the Avilla Public Library.