\u201cGetting in the Smithsonian is one thing. But to get in for this specific purpose, the 250th birthday, it\u2019s just unbelievable,\u201d said Rick.<\/p>\n
![\"108](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/A6RQE5OXLRBHXA3RWROWFV6XCM.jpg\")
108 fish decoys were packed up to be apart of the “State Fairs: Growing American Craft” exhibit at the Smithsonian.(Rick Whittier)<\/p>\n
Originally, the Smithsonian asked for about 10 decoys, but instead, they asked for 108. A few packers were sent to their house a couple of weeks ago to gather the decoys.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey wanted three decoys at a time, and it took like nine hours to box them. They wanted the three decoys at a time to be brought out. The Smithsonian sent them labels to put on the box, fish-specific,\u201d said Rick.<\/p>\n
Countless hours, they tell Valley News Live, it\u2019s been hard not to share the good news. Now, they can finally share what they say is one of the biggest honors.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge honor. Anybody you tell, I have a really large family. We tell all of them, and everybody\u2019s like \u2018Oh!\u2019 their jaw just drops, the Smithsonian?\u201d<\/p>\n
After hours of hard work, the Whittiers are getting ready to wind down.<\/p>\n
\u201cRick started calling this our last dance. I mean, this is our big finale,\u201d said Connie.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re representing North Dakota, so we wanted to do it right,\u201d added Rick.<\/p>\n
The Whittiers are traveling to D.C. this fall for a meet and greet with other artists. Then, they\u2019ll head back in the spring for a demonstration on how they make their decoys.<\/p>\n
The exhibit opens August 22nd, 2025, and runs through September 7th, 2026.<\/p>\n