If all the snow and cold weather has you down, you could look ahead to spring and Easter by visiting the Lowden Library in eastern Iowa. Elizabeth Dahlstrom of the Iowa Egg Council says the Lowden Library is hosting the council’s display of the 2008 entries for the White House Easter egg contest.

Dahlstrom says the winning egg went to the White House, but the remaining eggs are on a tour of the state at various libraries. Kristina Veach of Wapello won first place in the contest that includes a cash prize plus traveling expenses to see her decorated egg displayed at the White House next spring. Dahlstrom says there 23 interesting eggs that didn’t win first place.

"You can’t believe the creative talents that people have and th different things they come up with to represent Iowa," Dahlstrom says. She says eggs were decorated with a John Wayne theme, many have agricultural themes, or feature unique things from different regions of the state. While you can see the runner-up eggs, Dahlstrom says the winning egg won’t be back for a tour.

Dahlstrom says the White House keeps the eggs "forever" and they never come back and she’s not sure where they go. You can see the egg exhibition through January 30th in Lowden, and it will then be on display in Pella for the month of February.