County Fairs

annie1992

13 years ago

Yes, it is that time again. Ann T is, among other things, a prophet, she said that Makayla could win a Grand Champion ribbon in Canada with those maple leaf hand pies. Well, she apparently could win one here too, along with some other ribbons.

These are the baked goods, ready for packaging and display, they include cinnamon rolls, peanut butter scones, Nutella bread and the hand pies.

My only baked entry was these dinner rolls, Makayla did most of the baking.

Our canned goods did pretty well too, here is Bud holding my ribbons and his. They didn't have a youth horticulture section this year, so he couldn't enter his garlic or the beets and lettuce he grew, so I told him he could have anything I won. He really only wants the very small premium, I figure it'll be about $4.00, LOL.

They were pretty excited when they found that several of those ribbons on display in the exhibit building belonged to them.

They also got some ribbons for photography, Makayla won a blue ribbon for her pictures of the Chicago skyline, taken from the top of the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. Bud won second place for his picture of my cows. Of course, I liked the cows better, but the Judges did not ask my opinion, LOL.

So, the final "fair ribbon tally"?

Makayla got (in addition to her photograph):

Grand Champion for Sweet Cherry Hand Pies
Reserve Champion for Habanero Gold
Blue ribbon for cinnamon rolls
Blue ribbon for gooseberry jam
Blue ribbon for peanut butter scones
Blue ribbon for canned 3 bean salad
Red ribbon for Nutella bread
Red ribbon for KatieC's Chipotle Catsup

I took home:

Grand Champion for salsa
Reserve Champion for pickled beets
Blue ribbon for dinner rolls
Blue ribbon for heirloom white tomatoes

Bud got his photography ribbon and says that next year he's going to "build something". They had many "pine wood derby" type cars, a small working engine, ship models, birdhouses, patio furniture (!!) a pictoral on how to change the oil in a tractor. It appears that the sky is the limit for Bud's "building" project. (grin)

All in all, it was a pretty good day at the fair. I told Makayla that next year I was baking more things. She said that was fine, she'd just get on the internet at school and find all...

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Comments (29)

colleenoz
13 years ago
What a haul from a very talented family! Obviously the grandies take after you :-D
Feel free to send samples :-D I'd be happy to confirm the judges' opinions!
pat_t
13 years ago
Outstanding! You guys ALL did a great job!
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Way to go Annie! I too came from a country life background. As kids when the fair came around everyone took turns fighting for the ovens to bake their entries. We had only one oven so it ran for 24 hours and each took turns! We finally got use of the neighbor's oven which helped out. Judging day was the BIG event. Sitting all day watching the judges do their work on taste, appearance ect. I recall while still in high school I entered strudel and wheat bread and won on both. Those were the days! My kids always whine that I should enter some of my jams, jellies and canned fruits in the fair but I always seem to forget until too late. Our county fair is wonderful and still has a lot of baked goods and canned goods (although it seems a little less every year). Some of the surrounding counties have little or no baked good entries! I was actually horrified when they started giving awards out for bread baked in bread machines. I guess I am too old fashioned. Glad to hear the grandkids are interested and you can pass on your skills! My kids love to eat the finished product but cooking in any form is not for them (hope they don't end up being microwave queens when it comes to food prep).
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teresa_nc7
13 years ago
Wow! That is indeed a major haul of ribbons between the three of you. I am so impressed with Makayla's baking and both the prize winning photos are wonderful.

Teresa
mitchdesj
13 years ago
Congratulations, what a great event to share with your grandchildren, they are adorable !!
foodonastump
13 years ago
You're going to bake MORE next year?! Give someone else a fighting chance, LOL! Congratulations on you haul of ribbons!
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
13 years ago
I am also impressed by the photography of the baked goods. Nice composition and lighting effects.

dcarch

This post was edited by dcarch on Wed, Jul 24, 13 at 7:43
User
13 years ago
Wow impressive!!! Congrats to you all.
ruthanna_gw
13 years ago
How exciting for you and your grand kids! Congratulations to all of you.
beachlily z9a
13 years ago
Oh, Annie, you all did great! Makayla looks so proud of herself and so grown up! Congratulations! What a haul of ribbons.
User
13 years ago
Congratulations to all three of you. Love that you are carrying on this County Fair tradition with Makayla and Bud.

~Ann
Rusty
13 years ago
Congrats to the 3 of you! ! !

Everything must actually be as good as it looks!

And I, for one, LOVE the photos of those happy smiles! ! ! !
They ought to be worth a couple more ribbons!

Rusty
Solsthumper
13 years ago
Everything looks delicious - Congratulations! I'll bet the judges were sporting smiles as big as the winners.

The cooking experience, the contests and the ribbons will never be forgotten.

Sol
compumom
13 years ago
So Annie, another generation of overachievers?!! Sheesh, would ya cut us lazy grandparents some slack? LOL They're adorable and clearly on the path to follow in your footsteps. Please tell me where you found the time to help with all of these projects-- in your SPARE time? LOL
doucanoe
13 years ago
Great job!

Looks like everyone did a superb job....at everything!

Linda
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you, everyone, the kids were SOOOO proud of their ribbons. Every year the competition gets a bit more intense, because their friends want to enter things now, and their cousins. Some of those parents get in on the fun, so now there are many more people entering things, a few years ago there were actually 5 of us, it was pitiful. I took it upon myself to single handedly fill the fair exhibit building. Now it's become a family/neighborhood bake off of sorts, and every year it's getting bigger again. That's a good thing, I thought it would die out completely.

Ellen, you know all that time I spend with Bud and Makayla? This just keeps them occupied I took Bud picking blueberries a couple of days ago so although I don't have Nintendo or Wii, etc., I have ideas to keep them busy AND get some of my baking done!

Beachlily, Makayla IS getting grown up, isn't she? She baked some cookies while Elery's grandsons were here from California, the youngest boy told her she'd "make a really good Mom someday". I think that was a compliment...

dcarch, thanks for the comments on the photos, but it was nothing short of plain luck. Those were taken in the morning with the light from a south facing window. No special set ups, no special lighting, just a bunch of goodies cooling on racks on the counter. You will note that the hand pies are even on a white paper plate, as required by fair rules for presentation, LOL.

A couple more years and Madi and her little sister will be baking with me for the fair, gotta keep that bake off tradition going.

And, although that salsa recipe is very popular, it's the first time I've ever won a Grand Champion ribbon with it at my own county fair, the best I've ever done with it is a second.

Annie
compumom
13 years ago
Good for you! These are important skills for kids to learn and as Elery's grandson already remarked, their cultivated natural talents will serve them well! Props to you for challenging others to bring in more fair entries. Your delicious salsa deserves to be Grand Champion!
trudy_gw
13 years ago
Fun times spent with Grandma.....memories the kids will never forget. You have taught them well! Blessings to you for the time spent with grandkids! More grandparents could do this kind of fun things with grandkids. Wish ours lived closer.......
eandhl
13 years ago
Well done!!!
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
13 years ago
They should also win ribbons for great dental work! :-)

dcarch

This post was edited by dcarch on Thu, Jul 25, 13 at 18:18
bcskye
13 years ago
Congrats to the three of you! I'm completely astounded by how much Makayla accomplished and know that Bud will be doing the same in short order. The photographs are really good and the baked products are awesome. Those two are growing so fast and it's wonderful that they have your influence to show them there's so many wonderful and satisfying things to do in life. Yes, Makayla will make a good mom some day, and Bud will probably make a really good dad because they are getting the right basics.
tami_ohio
13 years ago
Congratulation to all three of you! I don't think I will be entering anything this year. If I did, it would all be knitted, no baking or canning!

Tami
annie1992
Original Author
13 years ago
LOL, dcarch, they have no cavities, but The Princess has a crooked front tooth, so it's probably braces for her when she gets a little older. The dentist won't have to worry about getting his money, I guess.

And thanks for not noticing the lunch on Bud's face. That boy ALWAYS has something on his face!

Annie
User
13 years ago
Good for them and good for you too!

Every time I see pics of them I just shake my head at how big they are getting.
KatieC
13 years ago
Nice. Congrats...open class is hard. Sorry Bud couldn't enter his garlic. Always sad to see fair departments dwindle. Baking, photography, quilts and flowers (esp. dahlias) are the biggies here...lots of competition. And jam...lots of jam.

Good for you for getting more competition going. I remember winning champion canner (or whatever they called it at the time) because they used a point system and I had the most blues, but only because I entered the most - nine jars. Hollow victory. I'm not entering any preserved food this year...they conned me into judging.
jimster
13 years ago
I'm proud to know you and your family, Annie.

Jim
maggie2094
13 years ago
Where is the LOVE button? Congrats to all!!!! Lucky judges!
Annie Deighnaugh
13 years ago
Congrats to a talented family and I'm sure a great time was had by all.
dedtired
13 years ago
Well, look at those two winners. What a great thing for them.

Makayla gets more and more gorgeous as she gets older and Bud is still the most rascally looking kid ever. It feels like they are mine, I have watched them grow over the years and read about their adventures. Give them kisses from their long-distance grandma.
caliloo
13 years ago
Congrats to the whole family! I am just gearing up to make my entries for our fair in a few weeks. Your salsa has been on my "to try" list for too many years, I think this year will be my first try at making it.

You are an inspiration to your family and to all of us "wannabes"

Alexa

County Fairs

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