FSA’s own Diane O’Neel took first place in the USDA Ag Art Competition with her “painted pig.”
By Brenda Carlson, FSA Public Affairs Specialist
Although many artists never in their lifetime realize their dream of having their artwork recognized and appreciated by the masses, this is not the case for Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) own Diane O’Neel. In fact, O’Neel, the chief program technician in the Saline County, Neb., FSA office has her artwork on display in the lobby area of Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s office suite.
O’Neel’s “painted pig” received top honors in USDA’s 2013 Art and Agriculture competition. Winning first place in the Ag Production category, O’Neel’s piece, titled “Proudly Supporting Livestock Ag,” is not only a tribute to the hog production industry, but more importantly to O’Neel, depicts the importance and tradition of the family farm.
On one side of the prize-winning sculpture, O’Neel painted her immediate family and on the other; she painted a landscape of the family farm and hog operation. The legs of the pig are painted to represent pillars which O’Neel says convey the message that, “The family farm supports livestock production and, in turn, livestock production supports the family farm in the same way that pillars support a structure.”
O’Neel, her husband and their two children operate a diversified row crop and farrow to finish hog operation in Friend, Neb. They are very involved with the Pork Producers Association and the pork industry, so much so that Farmland Industries had featured a picture of the O’Neel family on the packaging of their meat products — an honor bestowed upon only eight other families to date.
According to O’Neel, “The picture of my family on the packaging of Farmland’s products is what inspired the painting on the side of the painted pig” which is now standing in Washington, D.C., in tribute to the family farm and American agriculture.
During a recent visit to Washington D.C., Dan Steinkruger, state executive director (SED) for Nebraska FSA had the pleasure of viewing O’Neel’s artwork on display in Secretary Vilsack’s office.
“To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered Diane’s work had won the competition. She is a great employee and her efforts and work at FSA represent the commitment and work ethic of all of our Nebraska employees,” said Steinkruger. “To have a Nebraska FSA employee receive an honor such as this is a proud moment for me as SED.”
In order to grab top honors in USDA’s art contest, O’Neels’s artwork had to first pass a rigorous judging by USDA employees. After winning that round, the piece went on to a second round of judging conducted by a panel of Washington, D.C., area art professionals.
About the “painted pig” and winning the department’s art contest, O’Neel said, “I’m very excited and glad to be able to have the opportunity to have my artwork represent production agriculture and all that the industry means to my family and many other farming and ranching families.”
Although clearly very talented, O’Neel humbly says that up until painting her blue ribbon pig, she had not picked up a paint brush in 30 years — not since high school where she discovered her skill and love of painting. “I couldn’t believe I could still paint,” said O’Neel.
O’Neel’s artwork as well as winners for all the USDA 2013 Art and Agriculture contest categories can be viewed on USDA’s Cultural Transformation website at http://culturaltransformation.usda.gov/cultural-transformation-blog.
