Minneapolis man turned tree stub into 20-foot pencil. Now, thousands flock to see it 'sharpened' annually

What started as storm damage has grown into one of Minneapolis' quirkiest summer traditions. Each year, thousands of people gather at the home of John and Amy Higgins to watch something most have never seen before: a 20-foot-tall wooden No. 2 pencil getting sharpened. The pencil stands in the couple’s front yard, where it began as a bur oak tree. In May of 2017, a windstorm snapped the top off the tree, leaving only the rooted trunk behind. Rather than cutting it down, the Higgins family invited local sculptor Curtis Ingvoldstad to do something else entirely, reported Smithsonian Magazine.

"Pretty quickly, we landed on the idea of a pencil. Obviously, the shape made sense, but everybody’s used a pencil; everybody knows a pencil," John said. Working with a chainsaw, Ingvoldstad shaped the trunk into a full-scale replica with ferrule, eraser, and all. He painted it yellow, added a pink eraser, and finished it off with a silver band. For the final touch, he etched the shaft with: "Trusty Empire Pencil Corp Made in U.S.A — 916 No. 2."

They named it the Lake of the Isles Pencil, or the "LOTI Pencil." In June 2022, they held the first "sharpening" — an event that has since become an annual ritual and local favorite. This year’s gathering, now in its fourth edition, drew more than 2,000 visitors, with people arriving from across the country. The celebration featured live music, ice cream, dancers in pencil costumes, and a tribute to Prince. At the center of it all was the pencil, where two men climbed the scaffolding and used a custom oversized sharpener to shave down the tip of the sculpture. According to Ingvoldstad, the pencil loses between three and ten inches from the top every year due to weathering, and like any pencil, it eventually needs reshaping. 

Amy added that the day is about more than just novelty. "It’s a crazy time we’re living in, and it gives people a diversion, a bit of fun, and time to let loose and be silly. We need that in life." The official account @lotipencil shared moments from the event, capturing the energy of the crowd and the joy of the ritual. One attendee, @depandyland, commented, "What a crowd today! So fun to see and hear all the cheers and support for LOTI!" Another, @janefroiland, wrote, "Thank YOU! What a delightful, weird, and artistic way to come together as a community. I’m so grateful I was finally able to see it for myself!"

People came from far beyond Minneapolis to attend the unique event. @nwrobel56 shared, "I came from Michigan with my daughter from Portland. It was all we imagined and more. Great community!" The event also drew praise for its spirit. @societyofchemists chimed in, "Creativity and community in abundance. Thank you, Lake of the Isles Pencil." "We tell a story about the dull tip, and we’re gonna get sharp," John said.

He added, "There’s a renewal. We can write a new love letter, a thank-you note. We can write a math problem, a to-do list. And that chance for renewal, that promise, people really seem to buy into and understand." What started as a meagre idea between two homeowners and a sculptor has grown into a moment that thousands look forward to each year. As Higgins put it, "We knew the event would bring fun and life to the pencil. But we had no idea what it would actually end up meaning to the community."

You can follow Lake of the Isles Pencil (@lotipencil) on Instagram for more updates on the festival.