Eliza Piatz, and her brother Jay Piatz, from John Hoeven Elementary School in Minot, both earned top honors in the youth art competition this week, representing their school and their favorite holidays through colorful, imaginative drawings.

Eliza’s piece, titled “Holly,” features a wide-eyed reindeer with a bright red nose and a cheerful rainbow-lettered name at the bottom. It’s a tribute to her favorite holiday – Christmas.

“I just love how everything sparkles at Christmas,” Eliza said with a grin. “I wanted to make something that looked happy and bright.”

Her artwork captured that joy and was awarded a blue ribbon at the fair, where it’s now on display among dozens of other pieces by young artists from across the region.

Evan Brandt/MDN Eliza Piatz, 8, holds her reindeer themed “Holly” piece at the North Dakota State Fair.

Her older brother, Jay, took a more autumnal route, crafting a festive Thanksgiving turkey complete with feathered flair and a bold “Give Thanks” message on the front. He said Thanksgiving is special to him because it’s all about “family, food and football.”

“I wanted it to look cool and kind of silly, too,” Jay said. “Drawing the feathers was my favorite part.”

Jay, too, walked away with a blue ribbon and a smile — and he wasn’t alone in celebrating. Clutched under one arm was his stuffed Bulbasaur, the Pokemon plushie he won at a State Fair game earlier.

The siblings’ art is displayed in the Ward County youth section of the fair’s exhibition hall, surrounded by rows of student-made drawings and paintings, many of them similarly focused on holidays, nature and colorful imagination.

For their parents, the ribbons were just the cherry on top of seeing their children express themselves through art.

“They worked so hard on their pieces,” said their mom, Brooke Parrill. “It’s wonderful to see that effort be shown off in such an awesome way.”

As for what’s next, Eliza said she’s already planning her next Christmas-themed creation.

“Maybe Santa next time,” she said, while Jay might stick with birds.

“Turkeys are cool,” he said, “but maybe I’ll try a hawk.”

The North Dakota State Fair continues through Saturday.