History on world-class snow carving team “Just Shoot It”
By: Emma Blakley
FRANKENMUTH, Mich. – Despite the chilly weather, the 34th annual Snowfest was in full swing this past weekend.
People of all ages came to Frankenmuth to see the various snow and ice carvings done by teams. Levels for snow sculpting ranged from children’s, high school, state, and world-class.
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley. 
Scenes from Frankenmuth’s 34th annual Snowfest, Frankenmuth, Mich., Jan. 31, 2025; photo credit Emma Blakley.
Sandy Dobbelaere, an Ohio resident, has been a snow sculptor at Snowfest for 22 years.
“In 2003 [I was] an art teacher. I taught lots of things, but [that year] I decided to teach a sculpture class.” Dobbelaere said. “I was doing some research on different kinds of sculptures, and I came across [Snowfest].”
After discovering Snowfest in 2003, she was offered the opportunity to take a block of snow that nobody had claimed.
“I got my daughter, another art teacher, and all three of us came up and did a single block.”
Dobbelaere’s team, consisting of Kalen Kelly, Colby Singer, and Kyle Kelley, named their 2025 sculpture “Just Shoot It”.
The team’s sculpture was based on Dobbelaere’s parents’ fishing experience in Alaska.
While fishing, they encounter a huge fish. With its massive size, her father tells her mother to “Just shoot it.”
“He was telling mom how to – shoot the gun, and it’s a rifle. The boats rock and ran, and they have no life jackets on,” Dobbelaere said. “They’re in 400-foot water and it’s cold.”
After successfully pulling the fish onto the boat, they lay it on the deck and share a laugh after their big catch.
Over the years, Dobbelare’s family has come to help with the snow carving.
“It’s been kind of a family thing – everybody in the family.”
Whether you’re on a team carving snow or ice, or just enjoying the sights in your free time, Zehnder’s Snowfest is a family event that all can enjoy.
