County Fair 2014

Grand Champion garden box at the Waushara County Fair, 2014

Well, it is end of the summer signaled here in Waushara County by the county fair.  It is also the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Wisconsin.  Although the motto is "100 years and going strong,"  I feel that may be wishful thinking on the part of the state organization.  To my eyes, it appeared there were a lot fewer entries this year over last in junior and open classes.  It may be the 4-Hers' priorities are more appropriately set on service projects of which I do not hear across the county, but I do not know if that is truly the case.

Zinnias on display backed by a pink geranium, the colors of summer on display.

County Fair Time

I'm pretty sure garlic took Grand Champion honors last year, too!

 I didn't participate in Open Class in the county fair  this year because I felt overwhelmed being on the Garden Walk.  But I always like to see what everyone else has done.

Obviously a good year for cabbage, but no Savoy types!

A good year for pumpkins, too,despite being so cool.

I keep thinking about entering some of my canning, but it seems so methodical.  Correct process, fill, etc. which you need to list on the label should result in a good product with good color, so I'm not sure what is competitive about it.  Not following the proper canning procedures can lead to an unsafe food item.  Does anyone follow me on this?  Either it is or it isn't.  Still, no one had entered sweet pickle relish, chutney (probably because there were no apples last year), or grape juice.  These are three of the reasons I can.  I was checking out the salsas to see how they compare to mine.  I have just a scant few jars left.

Hey, all! Lots of potatoes!  No blue potatoes exhibited, though!

And out of all the cherry tomatoes, only the one plate of my favorite, chocolate cherry tomatoes, which took Second.

This was different!

These blueberry muffins looked good.

Of course, there was this piece of silliness on the part of Handsome Son and his girlfriend, and ther were funny chickens, and cows, and, of course, funnel cake!

Visitng the County Fair

Silly pork butt picture at the county fair.



I've spent the last three days at my brother's house and the family garden babysitting the twins while their parents have been on vacation. It has given me some time to can and freeze.

Back at my own home, my son managed to hold himself together, care for Faithful Companion, get to work, and feed himself, barely. Dirty dishes were "neatly" stacked, laundry overflowing, and he only slept one hour on Thursday because he and his best friend went "out" to breakfast at 2 AM.

Hmmm.

So as I work my way through mountains of his dirty clothes and do dishwasher after dishwasher of dirty glasses and plates (Have I mentioned his normal feeding schedule is about once per twenty minutes?, and make and can salsa today, I will mention I made my annual trip to the County Fair, yesterday.

County Fairs are a wealth of resources, particularly, which vegetable varieties have grown well for gardeners in the local area. One of judging rules requires naming the variety, great for me!

So far I have yet to see red sweet peppers for sale at Farmers' Markets. The best sweet red sweet pepper I saw displayed was a green 'Carmen', the variety I planted this year also.

Of the cherry tomatoes, the winner was another variety, of which I have already written, the 'Super Sweet 100'.


Broccoli 'Bay Meadow'


Tomato 'Celebrity'
'Celebrity' was the consistently largest tomato of all the entries.


This tomato, 'German Red', was particularly tastey-looking.


Celery 'XP-266'

Until last year I didn't realize celeruy could even be grown here. Last year a single entry of the variety 'Michigan' was entered. THis year there were many entries, no 'Michigan', but lots of 'XP-266' and 'Green Bay' or "self-blanching". I grew 'Tango'. I didn't see seed for these other varieties.


Celery 'Green Bay'


Grapes 'King of the North'


'Sweet corn 'Ambrosia'

We wanted to stay away from GMO and hybrid sweet corn. I'm not familiar with 'Ambrosia' and will have to check that one out further.

Today it is back to salsa-making.

Tomorrow: More of the county fair.