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.