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The dining room tables at Generations in Luverne were covered with brightly colored puzzle pieces Saturday for the Jigsaw Puzzle Tournament that involved 19 teams.
Thirteen-year-old Mazzi Moore and her mom, Lexi, of Hills took first place in the 300-piece division of the afternoon session.
They had their image of an Easter egg collage put together in 30 minutes — long before competitors had edge pieces intact.
Many wondered if the Moores practiced for the March 21 event.
“She’s been practicing her whole life,” Lexi said. “We love to fix puzzles … ever since she was really little.”
When they heard about the Generations Puzzle Tournament, they didn’t hesitate to sign up. “We knew this is where we needed to be today,” Moore said.
While they accepted their first-place prize — a blooming spring plant and a puzzle, others around them continued in the competition for second place and third place.
Among them was Luverne native Charlotte (Green) Dammer, who now lives in Rushmore where the community booster club hosts puzzle tournament fundraisers.
“Puzzle tournaments are a thing,” said Dammer, who was fixing a puzzle with her granddaughter, Kiley Dammer, in Luverne Saturday. “They’ve been really popular in the Cities.”
Generations Vice President Renae Reu said they participated in the Rushmore tournament to bring back ideas for Luverne.
“Randy and Joyce from the Rushmore Booster Club Puzzle Organizers were very helpful in advising us and helping us choose the puzzles,” Reu said.
“Jerry and I do puzzles all winter long so this is something we were interested in.”
Ten teams competed Saturday morning in solo and two-person divisions with 500 and 300-piece puzzles.
Nine teams competed Saturday afternoon in a youth division for a team of two youths (grades 3-8), and a youth-adult division for a youth in eighth grade or younger paired with an adult of any age.
“We were pleased with the interest and sign-up and have been asked by contestants to do it again,” Reu said. “We think Winterfest Saturday may be a good time doing a Christmas puzzle.”
See the Generations Facebook page for winners in each of the divisions and their photographs.
The $30 entry fees benefit the Generations building fund for a new facility that will be built on next-door property formerly owned by Terry and Mary Thone, who are moving the house.