Saturday, August 28, 2010

County Fair Tablescapes

As in my previous post - I am sharing pictures from our county fair. Our Food and Nutrition Project members are judged about three weeks prior to the fair. The reasons for judging the projects prior to the fair are that, first, our state fair has begun and ended before our county fair. Selecting the project winners at the prejudging enables them to compete in the project at the state fair. Having our food project judging in an air conditioned church hall allows the food to be served in a safe and sanitary manner. Food safety is a big part of the food project curriculum and members transport their food in food safe containers like a thermos or cooler; and even take the temperature of the food to show the judges that their food is safe to consume.

A second part of our judging day is our tablesetting competition. Members have always had to present their food serving on a placesetting appropriate for the meal that the food is part of. The correct way to set a table is another important learning experience. A few years ago, the top tablesetting awards were created in honor of one of our superintendents who is looking down on us from the heavens. (Hi Dianne!)
To showcase the members at the fair, my FCS committee creates a booth displaying photographs of all the members posing with their food and placesetting on judging day.  The top four placesettings are invited to recreate them at the fair.
Our first tablesetting features a patriotic theme. The chef/designers include a copy of their menu including the food they had prepared for judging. The baskets in the background are booth decorations and are not part of the placesetting.

This adorable placesetting features a butterfly theme.
 Don't you love the ruffled look of the placemat?
I am guessing that since this inspirational beach themed placesetting has no silverware, our 4-H member is  ready for the snack portion of the menu. I believe that the food prepared from the book would be from one of our beginner projects, Snack Attack.
The night that our 4-H food and nutrition placings are announced, a silver tray is also awarded for Most Creative Tablesetting! This red, white and blue themed placesetting was our winner. Unfortunately my photography skills do not due justice to the lovely setting. At judging, her centerpiece was a handmade bouquet of red, white and blue cut fruit. This was not brought to the fair to sit in a very hot building for seven days. As the person who sat in that building for seven hot days, I was very grateful!

This was our first year for a new cake decorating contest. I  thought I would share the entries, made on styrofoam bases by members aged 11-15.
Great cakes for our first year!

I will be linking with Tablescape Thursday with the fabulous Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. Even though I have not shared a tablescape for quite a while - I have been peeking at all of yours! What great and creative tablescapers you are. Unfortunately I can't leave comments from my computer at work. My September schedule includes my son's wedding. Hopefully after we get through the wedding, I can get back to the blog world! Thanks for visiting.

17 comments:

  1. Great tables...the cakes are fantastic!

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  2. Love country fairs! What fun displays. Have fun with the upcoming wedding.

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  3. This is a wonderul post! I love our fair!!!! Teaching children the right way to do things is so important.

    I am a certified state judge and have judged so many things. It is a great joy in my life!!!
    What an inspiring post.
    Yvonne

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  4. Thank you for a delightful post. I love to see new talent! And thanks for the kind words while you dropping in..

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  5. Good idea to post the county fair tablescapes! They did a good job, glad to see the younger group enjoying our wonderful hobby as well!

    Katherine

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  6. Oh! You have brought back memories of my own 4-H Fair days so very long ago. I remember entering cookie baking and floral arrangement particularly. I don't think that we had table settings back then. I think it is a GRAND idea and would have loved it. These are wonderful,and I hope you can give the tablescapers a big two thumbs up from me. Loved the "God so loved the world that he gave us the beach" sign. It made me smile!

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  7. Never did 4-H, but what a way to learn things at such a young age. How fun to do tablesettings too. Joni

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  8. Blessings on your for all your work with these girls! How fun it must be to see their pride in their accomplishments! Enjoy your son's wedding festivities! Mine is getting married in December. Time to start looking for my dress!

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  9. Great post! What a fun fair project. The settings are so fun and these girls are on their way to more beautiful tablescape creativity. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  10. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful tablescapes. This is one fair event that I would make a point of attending. Such fun! Cherry Kay

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  11. This looks like a fun and very interesting event. The cakes look so pretty and delicious! Hope everything goes well with your son's wedding!...Christine

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  12. I haven't been to a fair in years, what fun competitions, the cakes are amazing for the age group :-)

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  13. Hi Miss Merrie,

    What a fun post! I really enjoyed learning about how all this happens at your county fair. You obviously had some very creative, talented participants. I especially liked seeing the cakes -- the 4H one in particular looked like something created by a professional!

    Thank you so much for your visit and the generous comment you left (such undeserved flattery, but it made me smile!). In fact, I think I'll go back and read it again if I ever need encouragement! ;)

    Have a great weekend!
    Bill

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  14. What a fun talescape post! It was fun to read all about the fair and the 4H. Those faux cakes look just wonderful!

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  15. Wonderful activities for the youth to participate in for the fair. I really enjoyed reading about all the contests. Thanks for sharing.

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  16. Hi Miss Merry! I'm so glad you stopped by my blog. I love meeting new bloggers from Ohio. I'm here in Cincinnati...where are you? The pics from the fair are too cute. They have some great ideas. Instead of FFA they would be FTA-Future Tablescapers of Amer. Now that we know where we are in Blogland, let's not be strangers. You're also entered into my giveaway!

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  17. Hi Again Merry! I just wanted to let you know you can find yourself on my bloglist and I'm a follower. Love the red and white, and Rooster acrylic plates...LOL...I bought some myself! You can see the red and white a few TT back. I haven't done my rooster table yet.
    Gotta go!

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Thank you so much for stopping by to visit! I love your comments and suggestions and read them all. Due to spam, I will now have to approve all comments.

Miss Merry