Learning from the County Fair

    When Kelsi, our oldest daughter, was five years old, we encouraged her to begin entering a cookie or baked good into our local county fair during the summer.  Now that my girls are ages 12 and 14, we've learned a lot of things about ourselves and about exhibiting and competing in the county fair.   

    As a mom, I've learned that entering items into the county fair is a great motivator to help children hone their skills and develop interests.  One of my daughters loves learning things just for the sake of learning.  The other daughter is more of an entrepreneur and has a competitive spirit, so she enjoys entering things into the fair to earn a little bit of money from prize ribbons...and to receive verbal praise from others.  This is just how God made them.

     Whatever their motivation may be, I have found that when they are practicing baking something or arranging flowers or working on a sewing project, since they know it will be entered into the fair later, they are more dedicated and focused on "getting it right." 

Letting our children make choices

    Each year, I've allowed my girls to decide what they would like to enter into the fair for exhibits and contests.  There have been years where I've encouraged them to do or make something different, but sometimes they end up sticking with their first choice, and that's okay. 

    Brittany joined a local 4-H cooking club this last fall.  Her leader has been a friend of ours for many years.  It was a great group of girls, and Brittany practiced cooking many recipes this year at home on her own that she hadn't tried before.

    This spring, she decided that she wanted to enter the Tablesetting contest at the county fair.  She has loved all things Japanese for a number of years now, so she decided to go through my box of Japanese articles that I was given when I spent ten days touring Japan and staying with host families many years ago when I was a teacher. 

    Below is the finished product!  After the judge "judged" the appearance of the table setting, Brittany and the judge moved the table to a platform for county fair guests to view.  This picture was taken after the table was moved, so a few items had jiggled out of place.  But at least, you get the point!

    Brittany was in the "Junior" category for 4-H Tablesetting, so her menu needed to be a breakfast menu.  She chose traditional Japanese breakfast foods for her menu, so this is nothing like what you would see at a typical American's breakfast table!

    We needed to purchase a few things for her table.  Obviously, any prize money she would win from her ribbons for this contest will not compensate for any expenses we put into the tablesetting itself.  But that's okay.  Brittany learned a lot about how to arrange a table, and I even learned a thing or two from the experience!  I didn't know that the area in which one person's tablesetting pieces are placed is called a "cover," and I didn't know that the length and width of the "cover" is supposed to be within certain guidelines.  We learned a lot as we read about how to properly set a table.

    For this table setting, we needed to purchase two white napkins, a stand for the menu, Japanese white tea cups, miso soup spoons, black lacquered miso bowls, a tall white stem of cherry blossoms (silk flowers), a vase ($1 from Dollar store), and a wooden Kokeshi doll.  We'll use the white fabric napkins each year that she participates, and if she uses a Japanese theme again in the future, you can bet that some of these items will show up again!  (We'll also use some of these items in our kitchen during the year!)
 

    Brittany was privileged to wear a women's yukata (robe) that we borrowed from a new friend whose college degrees were in Asian studies.  First, she put on her yukata and costume; then, she introduced herself to the judges and turned in the required paperwork that she had filled out. 

    Next, she had fifteen minutes to set up and arrange her table.  She's ready to go!  She measured the sides of the tablecloth with a ruler to make sure that each side was evenly placed on the table.  She wiped each dish and serving piece with a clean towel to remove smudges.  She worked hard to keep her back facing away from the judges, so that they could clearly see her work.  When she finished, she checked her time on the watch that she wore.  If I remember correctly, she still had about a minute left when she finished.  Great job, Brittany!

Meeting the judges and handing in paperwork

On your mark, get set, go!

Whew! I think I made it!

    Now that her table setting was finished, it was time to sit down and chat with the judge.  This particular judge regularly helps judge the State Fair competition, so she really knows what she is doing. 

    Brittany found her to be serious and yet kind.  She had many helpful suggestions for Brittany, which we appreciated.  One of the confusing aspects of this Japanese breakfast table setting is that it was difficult for us to figure out ahead of time how the chopsticks and other serving pieces should be arranged on the table.  The competitors are given a packet that explains how to properly set the table, but it doesn't take into account foreign place settings.  After researching on the internet, Brittany decided to place her chopsticks like you see in the photos above and below.  I encouraged her to place them in a more traditional manner, as they would be placed in Japan, but she chose to place them where silverware would be placed.

    The judge felt that Brittany should have placed the chopsticks in a more traditional manner, but her concept of this was very different from what we researched and viewed about Japanese tablesettings.  The method in which the judge was explaining how to place the chopsticks was more like what a person would do in Thailand and China, not Japan.

    If Brittany chooses to do a Japanese-themed table setting next year, we'll do more research into how to properly set a Japanese table.

    Brittany was nervous as she started setting up her table, but she ended with a smile.  She listened carefully to the judge's words, and took them to heart.  Brittany ended up receiving a blue ribbon and a Reserve Champion ribbon for this particular contest.  Way to go, Brittany!

The judge explains what she observed and gives Brittany helpful tips

Brittany posing with her finished table

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Brittany, Part 2:  The Mini-Meal Competition

    I think this photo says it all.  Brittany is one nervous girl!  If you don't know what the Mini-Meal competition is, I'll explain.

    The competitor, or team of two, has two hours to set up all of the equipment, supplies, and ingredients to make two recipes; prepare the foods; set a table for the judge; present the food to the judge; present samples to the audience; and clean up the kitchen.  Whew!  You can see the judge sitting outside the kitchen, viewing Brittany through the window.  This was challenging for Brittany, to have the judge right there watching her, but she endured.

    While the Mini-Meal competition was new to Brittany, it wasn't new to me.  My twin sister and I competed in the Mini-Meal competition a number of times in our jr. high and high school years.  It was always a great experience!

    Brittany decided to continue the Japanese theme for the Mini-Meal competition.  She selected two Japanese foods to prepare:  okonomiyaki (Japanese veggie/meat "pancake"), and chicken yakisoba (chicken and noodle dish).

    She had a lot to do to prepare for the contest.  She observed YouTube videos to see how these foods were made, and to obtain recipes for them.  We needed to purchase some of the ingredients in an Asian market about three hours away from our home.  Thankfully, we drove past this city earlier in the summer when we were out of town.

    Next, Brittany needed to practice the recipes.  They were both time-consuming because they required lots of chopping of vegetables and meats.  However, they were delicious, so we really enjoyed having her practice on us!

    Brittany painstakingly wrote out a step-by-step set of directions for herself so she would stay on track.  She also figured out the cost of each recipe as a whole, and as an individual serving.  In addition, she studied 4-H's required nutrition guides, using the food pyramid, and MyPlate, even though our own family chooses not to follow the USDA's nutrition suggestions.

    She also made a large poster that contained both recipes, one of the requirements for the contest.  She filled out paperwork for the judge and brought it with her.

    Here's what we learned from this experience: 

1.  Select foods that aren't so time-consuming to prepare. 
2.  Select recipes that aren't so expensive to prepare.
3.  Have the child pack her boxes of supplies and foods so she is confident that everything is packed and brought to the county fair.  (I packed her boxes this time because it was late at night and she needed to get some rest.)

    How did it go?  Well, Brittany had trouble finding a few items she needed at the beginning of the contest, so her nerves got the best of her for the first 30 minutes or so.  However, she pulled herself together and was able to prepare her foods and finish well.  I'm so proud of her participation in the Mini-Meal contest.  There were only two other competitors this year.  It is not an easy contest!

    The judge had fabulous tips and pointers for Brittany.  Most of these I've mentioned to Brittany in the past, but cooking and food safety skills take time to develop.  The judge complimented her and told her that she sees Brittany doing great things in the future as a cook!  Brittany was beaming by the time she finished chatting with the judge.  I'm thrilled that even though Brittany was very nervous and almost overwhelmed at the beginning, she endured and came out with a smile!  She won a blue ribbon for her participation in the Mini-Meal contest.

Photo of Brittany's friend, Megan

Photo of Kelsi's cat, Starlet

Photo of tulips at our state's annual tulip festival

    Oh, I almost forgot!  Brittany also entered three photographs into the fair.  She received blue ribbons on two of them, and a champion ribbon on one of them.  Two of the photos were selected to go to the state fair, so Brittany was excited!

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Kelsi's participation in our county fair:

    Kelsi chose a different path this year than she has in past county fairs.  Instead of doing any cooking, sewing, photography, or art, she chose to focus on public speaking.

    Yeah, I know that's most people's #1 most hated thing to do - to get up and speak in front of others - but Kelsi thrives on public speaking.

    So, I let her work on this for the summer instead of focusing on other learning projects.

    Kelsi is not your typical teenage girl.  She spent much of her summer researching her speeches, writing them, and practicing and editing them.

She entered all three categories that she was allowed to enter for 4-H Public Speaking: 

1.  Illustrated Talk:  Kelsi gave a 20-minute speech using PowerPoint about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the need for a Parental Rights amendment for the U.S. Constitution.

2.  Public Speaking:  Kelsi gave a 10-minute speech on the positive character qualities of Batman and why she admires this superhero.

3.  Impromptu:  Kelsi was handed a topic on which to speak for 3-5 minutes.  She forgot to keep track with her stopwatch/wristwatch, so she accidentally spoke for over 7 minutes.  Oops!  I guess she has the opposite problem of most people who are attempting to give an impromptu speech!

What did we learn from Kelsi's participation in the fair?

1.  She spent so much time researching, reading, and learning about her topics that she allowed herself almost no time for social interaction with her friends.  While she was doing something positive and educational, social time with friends is also important.  Next summer, we will work on including a lot more time with friends and possibly less time working on speeches.

2.  This is Kelsi's gift!  She loves public speaking, and God has gifted her. 

Kelsi earned blue ribbons on all three speeches, as well as two reserve champion ribbons.  She also earned the overall grand champion ribbon for the entire speech category.  I loved listening to her speeches, and I can't wait to see how the Lord will use this in her life in the days to come!

    Helping the girls to prepare for the county fair, even though they do most of work themselves, is exhausting to me.  I am always so thankful when it is over!  Yet each year, they continue to participate because they learn so much from what they enter and exhibit.  I'm very thankful for our county's commitment to 4-H and encouraging teens and youth to participate in the county fair each year. 

    I've learned a lot as a parent, when it comes to entering the county fair contests:

1.  For baked goods, no matter how much better the item will taste if it is a little bit underbaked (think gooey chocolate chip cookies), the judge will mark it down.  Make certain the baked good completely fulfills the requirements of being 100% cooked thoroughly.  Even though your family and friends prefer it otherwise.  Trust me on this one!

2.  For food exhibits, select less common recipes that will often have fewer entries.  For example, if you enter chocolate chip cookies or peanut butter cookies or brownies, there will usually be a lot of entries, especially in the open class/non-4-H competitions.  Make a nutty cookie, or something with oatmeal or coconut.  Place it in a different category that isn't so common. 

3.  Keep in mind that each year's judge will have different preferences.  While the judge's dislike for coconut shouldn't influence her judging of baked goods containing coconut, it probably will.  That's just how things go sometimes.  If you find that the judge hates chocolate, you may find your baked item containing chocolate may not do as well.  There's no way to determine ahead of time how this will all come into play, so just make what you enjoy making, and have fun entering it regardless of the outcome!

4.  Allow children to make decisions on what they would like to enter at the county fair.  If they love building with Legos, they can enter a Lego work that they've designed.  Photography, sewing, hand crafts, collections, sketching, painting, cake decorating, baking - the sky is the limit! 

5.  Keep in mind that even though this will probably be a stressful few weeks in preparation and actual participation at the county fair, it will be well worth it.  Your children will learn so much!  They will grow from this experience!  It's definitely worth it for both the children and the parent!

What kinds of things have your children entered in your local county fair?  What have you, as a family, learned from this experience?

Julieanne

Joy In Our Journey.com

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