Domestic arts important part of Fayette County Fair
Herald-Standard
in this file photo, Mikaela Kamp of Gibbon Glade, Fayette County fair queen, and Kelsey Kiel of Farmington, fair princess, right, pass out slices of the entries for the chocolate cake contest at the Fayette County Fair. The cakes are shared with fairgoers after the judging.
Laura Smith, of Smithfield, who co-chairs the Home Economics Building at the Fayette County Fair lays the best of show ribbon for handcrafts on a scrolled-saw chess set created by Frank Engwer. Smith said, “The chess set is so impressive.'' The building displays handcrafts, needlepoint, baked goods, canned goods and youth entries in open-class competition.
Frances Borsodi Zajac|Herald-Standard
Melissa Shaw of Grindstone, retired culinary instructor at Fayette County Career and Technical Institute, judges chocolate cakes and cookies entered at the Fayette County Fair. Wendy Friend of McClellandtown, who chairs special baking and cooking contests, assists the judge. Shaw said to the contestants, “Everything was awesome. You all did a great job.’’
Fayette County Fair Queen Mikaela Kamp, of Gibbon Glade, (left) presents the blue ribbon to Ashley Minerd, of Lemont Furnace, for taking first place in the junior cookie contest at the Fayette County Fair. This is Minerd's third win. She said, “I just put a lot of hard work and determination into it and practice a lot. I always do it with my mom.’’
The 4-H Fashion Show allows youths to show off their sewing skills with projects later entered in competition at the fair. Pictured are (from left) are members of Sew Cookers: Isabel Angelo, of Smock; Mikayla Shea, of Smithfield; Avery Lax, of New Salem; Rhegynn Geletko, of Smithfield; Adriana Angelo, of Smock; Katelyn Firestone, of Grindstone; Rachael Smith, of Smithfield; Anna Jeffries, of Uniontown; Danielle Angelo, leader; Pam Howarth, leader; and Kristen Libertino, of Uniontown. Miranda Williams of Uniontown, not pictured, is also a member of the club.
Avery Lax, of New Salem, shows off the romper she made at the 4-H Fashion Show at the Fayette County Fair in Dunbar Township. Lax is a member of Sew Cookers.
In this file photo, Isabel (left) and Adriana Angelo, of Smock, show off dresses they made at the 4-H Fashion Show at the Fayette County Fair.
Carrie Hawk, left, and Jennifer Broadwater, both of East Millsboro, register sour cream cookies made by Rose Gabeletto, of Nemacolin, Greene County, into competition for the baked goods judging in the Home Economics Building at the Fayette County Fair, which runs through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township. The women registered baked goods and canned goods entries at their table.
This scroll-sawed chess set made by Frank Engwer won best of show in the handcrafts department in the Home Economics Building at the Fayette County Fair.
Laura Smith, of Smithfield, who co-chairs the Home Economics Building at the Fayette County Fair hands a best of show ribbon for needlework on a crocheted dress made by Jean Gallik.
This is the blue ribbon-winning chocolate cake made by Jennifer Diamond of Smithfield for competition at the Fayette County Fair. The cake features three layers, filling and a patriotic design.
The Fayette County Fair is not just a showcase for agriculture but also for domestic arts, such as baking, sewing and crafts.
Fairgoers see the best of what the community has to offer on display at the fair, running now through Aug. 4 at the fairgrounds in Dunbar Township.
Fairs recognize the value of the domestic arts.
“I grew up in agriculture. Today, everybody is into the food movement with buying local and gardening. I think learning to feed and clothe yourself is important. And it’s important for young people to see that,” said Laura Smith of Smithfield, who co-chairs the Home Economics Building. “I think of the creativity (of domestic arts) and people getting away from TVs and cellphones. A lot of people do it in groups and classes so they’re getting out into the community.”
Quilts are the number-one draw in the Home Economics Building, followed by canned goods, ceramics and youth displays that involve categories from crafts to collections. Baked goods are judged the first night of the fair and immediately put up for sale with proceeds going to maintain the building.
Smith noted the fair received a lot of hand-stitched quilts this year and commented, “A lot of them have a story. A woman brought one in where all the pieces were scraps from quilts she had entered in the fair over the years. Another woman brought in one made from tie-dyed shirts that her grandchildren had tie-dyed.”
A scroll-sawed chess set by Frank Engwer garnered the ribbon for best of show in handcrafts, Dept. 19.
“He’s won best of show I don’t know how many years,” said Smith. “The chess set is so impressive. One year he made the Lord’s Prayer all carved in one piece.”
Other results include Dept. 19 – handcrafts: Kayla Hall, grand champion; Jackie Sprowl, reserve grand champion. Dept. 18 – needlework: Susan Jordan, grand champion; Linda Percy, reserve champion; Jean Galik, best of show with a crocheted girl’s dress; Dept. 15 – home and dairy products, Betsy Haas, grand champion; Carrie Hawk, reserve champion.
Smith explained each ribbon has a point value and the points are totaled to determine champions while best of show is a judge’s choice.
The fair hosts separate competitions for apple pie, angel food cake, chocolate cake and cookies the first weekend as well as a chili cook off on the last day.
Talent runs in many families where you see members earning ribbons. For example, Ashley Minerd took the blue ribbon in the youth cookie contest while her mother, Christine Minerd, won second place in the apple pie contest.
Asked their secret, Christine said, “They’re made from family recipes. We both love to bake.”
This was the third time Ashley, 16, and a junior at Laurel Highlands High School, won the cookie contest, entering a giant peanut butter chocolate chunk cookie. She said, “I just put a lot of hard work and determination into it and practice a lot. I always do it with my mom.”
Other results include: chocolate cake: Jennifer Diamond of Smithfield, first place; Bonnie Swartz of Mount Pleasant, second; Laura Wilson, of Belle Vernon, fourth. Junior cookie contest: Hannah Foster of Ohiopyle, second; Christopher Hawk of East Millsboro, third. Apple pie: Lauren Diamond of Smithfield took first place; Kaylin Luster, third. Angel food: Bonnie Swartz of Mount Pleasant, first place; Robert Luster, second; Carrie Hawk of East Millsboro, third; and Laura Wilson of Belle Vernon, fourth.
Wendy Friend of McClellandtown, who chairs these special contests, said, “The quality was wonderful. The judge had a hard time deciding.”
Melissa Shaw of Grindstone, retired culinary instructor at Fayette County Career and Technical Institute who judged the chocolate cake and cookie contests, said to the contestants, “Everything was awesome. You all did a great job.”
But entries in the Home Economics Building and for the baking contests are down. Officials remind the public these competitions are open class. Exhibitors don’t have to belong to 4-H or another organization or even live in Fayette County.
Smith noted youths can enter school projects and there is a category for groups in which quilting clubs can participate.
Youths who are eager to learn are members of Sew Cookers 4-H club, who participated in the fair’s 4-H fashion show where they showed off projects they made, including dresses, shorts, sleepwear, blankets and totes. Their exhibits are being judged in competition July 31.
Participants included Avery Lax of New Salem; Kristen Libertino of Uniontown; Adriana and Isabel Angelo of Smock; Rachael Smith of Smithfield; Mikayla Shea of Smithfield; Katelyn Firestone of Grindstone; Anna Jeffries of Uniontown; Rhegynn Geletko of Smithfield. Miranda Williams of Uniontown is also a club member.
Danielle Angelo of Smock, leader, said, “They’re very hard workers.”
“They want to do it right,” said Pam Howarth, club leader, “and they’re willing to rip out their work and do it over.”
“Whatever makes it look good,” said Mikayla.
The girls enjoy the club, which will continue to meet year round and include cooking lessons.
“It was fantastic,” said Kristen. “I like how it was casual and we pretty much did it by ourselves. If we needed help, we asked.”
“I like that you can put your own creativity into your clothes,” said Isabel.
“It was fun,” said Anna, “and I’m going to do it again next year.”
Sew Cookers is one of two sewing clubs in Fayette County 4-H, which has 24 traditional clubs this year. More information on how to join is available at the Youth Building during the fair. More information on participating in fair competitions is available in the catalog under “Get Involved” at www.fayettefair.com.