It was a "three-peat" for artist Dwaine Crigger. On Wednesday, the southwest Missouri sculptor was awarded one of four $1,000 top prizes — for the third year in a row — at the annual MO 50 Exhibition. The show, which features works by 50 selected Missouri artists, is open through Aug. 20 at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.

"I'm pretty excited," says Crigger. "To get an award is amazing. Three years in a row is incredible."

Keith Ekstam,who, like Crigger, teaches at Missouri State University, also won $1,000. Mel Hall of Springfield won honorable mention. Other selected exhibiting Ozarkers include Gregory Benne, Kevin Hughes and Benjamin Schulman of Springfield; Jeff Johnston of Nixa; Susan Leslie Lumseden of Thayer; Sandra Strother of Marshfield; and Peggy Wyman of Macomb.