Elm Grove Floral Designer Earns Top Honor At Wisconsin State Fair

ELM GROVE, WI — Jenn Breitbach, Lead Designer at Snapdragon Flowers of Elm Grove, was named the 2019 Wisconsin Professional Designer of the Year on Saturday after winning a statewide floral design competition at the Wisconsin State Fair.

Breitbach, Lead Designer at Snapdragon since 2016, won two honors: the judges’ vote for Professional Designer of the Year, and an audience vote for the People’s Choice Award. She is the first-ever winner of both awards, placing ahead of three other finalists in the Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Florists Association competition.

"Jenn worked extremely hard to prepare for this event, and represented our Snapdragon team very well. She continually strives to improve her craft, which is reflected in the amazing arrangements she creates for our customers," Rhonda Deaver, owner of Snapdragon Flowers of Elm Grove said to Patch.

A large crowd attended the Saturday competition, where Breitbach competed against florists from Green Bay, Portage an Appleton. Each was given one hour to create a centerpiece for a small table, and a buffet piece to be used on a larger table.

Breitbach, a professional floral designer for 13 years, said she prepared for months by studying floral design manuals, taking classes, watching an untold number of YouTube videos, and interacting with other designers on social media.

“I took inspiration from many amazing designers, and was humbled to learn from them,” she said. “The competition itself was a big surprise. You don’t know what you’re getting into until you’re there.”