I won a blue ribbon at the county fair: 4-H Portraits by Aimee Tomasek

Inside the Robert Cain Gallery through October 18, 2026

For over ten years, local photographer Aimee Tomasek has been taking portraits of “4-H’ers” at the Porter County Fair. Tomasek is an art professor at Valparaiso University, director on the Fair Board, and a former ten-year 4-H member.

About the Robert Cain Gallery

The Robert Cain Gallery honors M. Robert “Rob” Cain (1930–2022), a lifelong Valparaiso resident and beloved art teacher who taught at Valparaiso High School. Cain participated in the gallery’s dedication in 2014 at the museum’s former home at 153 Franklin Street. Its naming was made possible by a special gift from Joanne Urschel, whose family members had been inspired by Cain during their time as his students. The gallery continues to bear his name at the museum’s current home at 20 Indiana Avenue.