Big show for Rusk County Extension Office
Liz Buckner County Extension Agent-FCS

Rusk County

The Sixth Annual Rusk County Family and Consumer Sciences Fair and Fruit and Vegetable Show was held June 25-27, at the Rusk County Extension Office Meeting Room and was a success thanks to all the exhibitors and all who visited during the viewing of exhibits. The show featured a total of 106 entries, and entries were submitted in eight divisions which included Foods, Canning, Craft, Quilt, Art, Photography, Woodworking, Horticulture.

The following received honors in the Adult Food Division. Carla Cloutier received Grand Champion for her "Formal Dressed Doll Cake", Ginger Shorter received Reserve Champion for her "Banana Creme Cake", and Virginia Gage received the Achievement Award for her "Pecan Tassies". The following received honors in the Youth Food Division. Sierra Reynolds received Grand Champion for her "Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies", and Taylor McCarthy received Reserve Champion for her "Apple Monkey Bread".

The Adult Canning Division honors were awarded to Kathy Ballow, Grand Champion, for her "East Texas Blueberry Jelly", Marie Boyd, Reserve Champion for her "Berry Jelly", and the Rusk County Extension Office, Achievement Award for their "Dehydrated Grapes". The following received blue ribbons for their canning entries: Marie Boyd, Kathy Ballow, and Rusk County Extension Office. The "Ball Bring Out Your Best Food Preservation Award Program", sponsored by Jarden Home Brands, makers of Ball, Kerr, and Mason Canning Supplies were awarded to the following: Vegetable Preservation Award - Kathy Ballow, Soft Spreads Preservation Award - Kathy Ballow and Marie Boyd.

Adult Grand Champion Craft was awarded to Karen Smith for her ceramic "Renaissance Santa", Reserve Champion was awarded to Esther Yancy for her cross stitch "Purple Wisteria", and Achievement Award was awarded to Pam Prentice for her plastic canvas cross entry.

Youth Grand Champion Craft was awarded to Clarrissa Ogden for her "Autumn Centerpiece" featuring fall chrysanthemums and cat tails. Youth Reserve Champion Craft was awarded to Sierra Reynolds for her "Seashore Scene", and Youth Achievement Award was awarded to Taylor McCarthy for her "Clothes Closet Scene". The following received blue and red ribbons for their "Craft" entries: Adults - Martha Bundrick, Kathy Ballow, Marie Boyd, Mattie Boyd, Martha Bundrick, Francis Hollowell, Alene Lofton, Edna Mae Phillips, Pam Prentice, Nell Simpson, Barbara Vinson, and Esther Yancy. Youth - Altina Robinson, and Clarrissa Ogden.

In the Adult Quilt Division, Grand Champion was awarded to Cloe York for her hand quilted, pieced, and appliqued, entry which was titled "My Irish Grandma Sue", Reserve Champion was awarded to Deannie Pollick for her applique quilt titled, "Apple Cinnamon Rag Quilt", and Achievement Award was awarded to Louette Johnson, for her applique quilt titled, "Granny's Flower Garden".

The following received blue or red ribbons for their quilt entries: Kathy Ballow, Marie Boyd, Louette Johnson, Deannie Pollick, Esther Yancy. Also, Barbara Vinson received a participation ribbon for exhibiting two antique quilts during the show.

In the Art Division - Pre- School Age Colorbook Art participants, Zarah Dean and Turner Sugg, received Blue Ribbons. Youth Art Junior Participant was Ashleigh Sugg who received a blue ribbon for her entry.

Photo Division - Adult Grand Champion was awarded to Barbara Vinson for her digital color entry titled, "Tree Frog in Iris",

Adult Reserve Champion was awarded to Glenda Derveloy for her digital color entry titled, "Lost & Found", and Achievement Award was awarded to Kathy Ballow for her digital color entry titled, "March 2008 East Texas Snow". Photo Division - Youth Grand Champion was awarded to Bria Terry for her digital color photography entry titled, "Sunset", and Youth Reserve Champion and Achievement Award honors went to Clarrissa Ogden featuring her photos titled, "Cannas" and "Fire Escape". Blue and red ribbon winners also included - Adult - Kathy Ballow, Liz Buckner, Jo Bundrick, Glenda Derveloy, Regina Sugg, Barbara Vinson and Youth - Altina Robinson, Brig Terry, Clarrissa Ogden.

Woodworking - Lee Fegette received a blue ribbon for his woodworking entry which was his creation - "Third Arm" to help hold plastic canvas and other needlework for people with disabilities. Adult Grand Champion Horticulture was awarded to Virginia Gage for her "Artillery Fern", Reserve Champion was awarded to the Rusk County Extension Office for their office Ficus Plant, and Achievement Award went to Martha Bundrick for her "Aloe Vera" entry. Blue ribbons in Adult Horticulture were awarded to: Liz Buckner, Martha Bundrick, Rusk County Extension Office, and Ginger Shorter,

Again, special thanks to all who viewed the exhibits, to Jarden Home Brands for sponsoring the food preservation awards in the Canning Division, and to all who participated in the 2008 fair. Congratulations to all ribbon winners. Hope to see all at next year's fair!

Reference to trade names or commercial products is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension is implied. Extension programs serve people of all ages regardless of socioeconomic level, race, color, sex, religion disability or national origin.