First Place: Micha Rott
Second Place: Valerie Chai – Fayetteville, NY
Third Place: Olivia Rose Langan – Bozeman, MT


Growing up in Nebraska, Micha Holle Rott always had a great love for art and animals—especially rabbits. There are many drawings from as young as 4 years old that have bunnies baking, etc. She either wanted to be a veterinarian or an artist and college chemistry confirmed what she already knew in her heart. While her family resided in Lincoln, Nebraska, her father had a dream of a place he referred to as "God's Country"—Montana. They made many vacation trips to Bozeman, where her parents picked out property for "some day." After she graduated from college and set out to conquer the world in graphic design Micah focused her sites on Bozeman but fell in love and married Jeremy Rott, a Kansas man, and settled there, while her parents, Larry and Rachel Holle, moved to Bozeman permanently. Today, Micah works as a freelance graphic designer and has three children, Silas-15 and twins Corinne and Jonas-12. She still loves animals and illustrating and dreams of one day setting aside time for a children's book. They visit her parents in Bozeman often to be where her son Silas has referred to as "the most perfect place."

When asked about her creative process, Micah says she brainstorms, sketches some options until she likes what she sees and then, "COLOR," beams Micah, "It's foundational, so I spend some time creating a color scheme before I execute a design." "Winning the Sweet Pea Festival poster contest, is such a high honor. I've been following this festival for over 20 years," says Micah, "I feel I'm in the company of some wonderful artists." Micah will be in town for the festival and hopes to sign posters on August 4th, 5th and 6th.

You can purchase this commemorative poster beginning in early July at select pre-sale outlets, the Sweet Pea Festival office and at the Sweet Pea Festival August 4-6th. For more information please visit: http://sweetpeafestival.org/buy-wristands-and-merchandise/.

About the Sweet Pea Festival
The Sweet Pea Festival is a festival of the arts that has been held in Bozeman, MT since 1978. The 2017 Sweet Pea Festival will be held August 4th, 5th and 6th with pre-festival Sweet Pea events The Art Show, Chalk on the Walk and Sweet Pea’s Bite of Bozeman beginning on July 30th. Sweet Pea is dedicated to our mission of "promoting and cultivating the arts" and brings music, an art show, flower show, children's activities and a beer and wine garden that features Montana brews to Bozeman during the three day festival. Pre-Festival events include Sweet Pea's Art Show, Chalk on the Walk and Bite of Bozeman.

The Sweet Pea Festival is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All money raised in excess of what is needed to operate the Festival is given back to the community in the form of grants for the arts, art education, and special projects in the Bozeman area.