Phillips County Fair Experiences a Decline in Open Class Entries

On Thursday, August 3, the entries started showing up and finding a new home for the next three days. Anxious little crafters and artists brought their projects in the hopes to appeal to the judge.

Truth be known, the eager young ones weren't too worried about what "color" was attached when the judging was done...the fact that it merited a ribbon was all the little eyes scanned for.

The steel building, that "used to" house just the 4-H entries, was the center for all 4-H, education, needlework, photography, and open class entries last year. This change was due to the loss of the grandstand and buildings in the torrential wind storm that left the place in a shamble.

The fair board and county commissioners made adjustments to assure that the 107th Phillips County Fair went on as scheduled last year. Now the 108th was ready for action.

According to Open Class Supt. Kay Harms, the departments this year continued to see a decline in entries. Compared to previous years, when every exhibit in 4-H alone was crunched and wrinkled trying to stay on the hangers or laying in piles making it difficult to locate come judging time. This year the building was nearly empty. That is backed up by the list of premiums from the fair office.

The budget offered $15,944 in premium money; the Fair Board paid out $3,718. The amounts compute to approximately 23% of what was available.

This year the top money exhibitor was Rose Teske who received a $254 check for her entries. Second top exhibitor was Vivian Bruckner ($159); she was followed by Loretta Menge ($134); Desiree and Delilah Hofer (each $84), and Kayla Ottinger ($81).

Grand and Reserve ribbons were awarded to Loretta Menge (yellow onions, cornucopia, & ripe tomatoes); Toni Ziegler (Herb Collection, chiffon cake); Nellie Plouffe (Martha Washington Geranium); and Dina Meneely (candy, other). Also: Rose Teske (various flowers, herbs, vegetables, etc. 12 in all); Rosemary Veseth (Oriental lily); Josie Brown (chalk pastel landscape, pencil drawing, oil painting); Carson Ottinger (photography city scape, PC County Fair; Emma Solberg (numbered painting); Roxy Hickel (acrylic painting, floral arrangement (three in all); Maria Meneely (succulent garden, novelty cookie (four in all); Kayla Jo Ottinger (wood working birdhouse, cupcakes, baking powder biscuits (six in all); Julie Moore (other Chinese lantern); Mary Kay Sainato (novelty cookies); Jeanie Green (other bread, 100% whole wheat); Anna Fuller (Strawflower, sunflower large, (four in all); Wilma Mavencamp (Celosia, Black Eyed Susan, (four in all); Anne Boothe (Hydrangea, Tall Sedum, raspberries); Becky DePuydt (Dahlia Miniature, Hollyhock); and Kenzie LaBrie (acrylic painting).

Sommer Green (acrylic painting skull cactus); Bruce Hill (acrylic painting adult, patriotic); Gemma Wright (woodworking fairy house); Brishley Witmer (metal craft decoupage can, other sour dough); Seterah Pekovitch (drawing pencil farm life); Macey Lien (acrylic painting animal); Desiree Hofer (scratch board); Bellamy Williamson (peach pie); Millie Kindle (angel food); and Gray Simanton (chocolate cookies).

Hunter Trembley (rhubarb bars, dried jerky); Darlene Kolczak (jams, jellies, spreads, baskets jelly, collection of three syrups, cauliflower); Rosa Hernandez (other jelly, cucumber pickles); William Hofer (white eggs, winter wheat); Shari Solberg (brown eggs); Sharon McDowell (fruit curd); Alex Harms (collection of three photography); Annabel Hofer (photography); and Vivian Bruckner (photography).

The following received awards for floral arrangements: Quincy Boyd, Blaine Evans, Taya Wiederrick, Eddie Ziegler, Hannah Ziegler, Rosemary Green, Laney Hoge, Jake Simonson, Tanner Wiederrick, Adeline Evans, Cash Roberts, and Robin Hickel.

Nine exhibitors put 18 livestock projects before the judge, and claimed $66 of the $438 available. Two exhibitors shared Community Exhibits and presented four entries to claim $110 of the $150 offered. This was the largest payout percentage at 73.33%.

Eighteen individuals entered 203 entries in the Grain, Grass, Vegetable and Fruit category and were paid $633. The Floriculture division had 114 entries from 45 individuals, paying out $474; while 33 skilled culinary enthusiasts brought 143 entries and received $491. The most entries were in the Needlework, Art and Hobbies, where 62 exhibitors delivered 583 finished projects for judging. This category paid out $1,639.

Four schools entered 406 works of creativity and art. These resulted in $305 in premium money.