SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Leave it to the smallest of seeds to tell the biggest story.

Athena Hollins' piece of crop art features a political giant. The smiling portrait of the late Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman is now on display at the Minnesota State Fair.

"The fact that millions of Minnesotans come to the State Fair every year, and they get to see her face and remember her — that's the part that I wanna see," the artist said.

Hollins is a state representative, once Capitol colleagues with Rep. Hortman. Hortman was also her mentor and friend, Hollins said.

Melissa and Mark Hortman, alongside the couple's dog, were killed at their home in June.

"I've cried over this piece of crop art, working on it, putting it together, seeing the face start to appear," Hollins said, describing the w

See Full Page