Johnson County Fair Week in Review

Today was the last day of the Johnson County Fair. I had to work all day so my daughter and I actually went yesterday to look at everything one last time. I like to spend time looking at all the exhibits to get ideas on all the stuff I'd like to learn how to do... someday.

I'll have to admit I spent a lot less time out at the fairgrounds this year than in years past. It might be that the kids are just getting older and are not as interested or I might just be too busy this year. So this is how the judging went...  I compete Open Class which means they give out one first, one second, and one third place award for each category so not everyone gets a ribbon like the 4H kids do. The judges also have the option of not awarding a first if your item is not up to snuff so you can't win simply by default if you have the only item in the category. This suits my Type A competitive personality to a T. I don't like "contests" where everybody wins a prize because it's really not a contest then. If everybody wins, you don't really "win" unless you get an overall award. Just my 2 cents. The other thing to remember is that this is a subjective contest. It's a judges opinion based on certain criteria. The more you compete, the more you understand what the judges "like" which may differ from your own tastes. OK, here's what I got:

Smith Island Cake - 2nd, I don't have the judging sheet yet but I'm sure they felt there wasn't
                                         enough "cake"

Looked pretty though!

Brownies - 2nd

Drop cookies: Pineapple Iced Coconut Macadamia - 1st

Fancy cookies: Pistachio Thins - 1st

Chocolate chip cookies - 1st

Molasses cookies - 1st

Other quick bread: Cheddar Bacon Chive Scones - 1st, Quick Breads Class Champion

Fancy dinner rolls: Loaded Potato Rolls - 1st, Yeast Breads Class Champion

Other yeast bread: Cinnamon Apple Pull-Apart Bread - 1st

Fruit pie: Blueberry Crumble - 2nd

Peanut Butter Fudge - 3rd

Caramel Corn - 1st

Microwave candy: 2-Layer Fudge - 1st

Honey Cookies: Honey Pecan Bars - 1st, Honey Class Champion

Honey yeast bread: Honey Oatmeal Bread - 1st

Heart Healthy cookies: Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast cookies - 2nd

Box Mix cookies: Spicy Hot Chocolate cookies - no placing

So, 18 baked items, 12 First places with 3 Class Champions, 4 Seconds, and 1 Third. There are 12 different Classes of baked goods and I had items spread across 10 of them. Each Class has one Champion selected from all the First place category winners. The Reserve Grand Champion and Grand Champion are then selected from the 12 Class Champions. Two years ago was my best showing ever when I won 6 Class Champions and the Grand Champion.

I also showed 2 photos and got a First in the Holiday Themes category and a Second in the Portrait category. I'm showing these same photos at the State Fair. I also showed a scrapbook that won First in the scrapbook category.

I get to prep all over again next week for the State Fair. My week should be a little more sane though because the due dates for my baked items are spread out more. I "only" have to bring 9 items to the Fair by next Saturday - as opposed to the 18 I brought last weekend!

I'm going to try to post more of my fair recipes this coming week.

It finally rained today! I had to run outside last night because the fitness center closes early on Friday nights. I did 3 miles in the sweltering heat at 8:30 pm - and my legs were DEAD from the previous 2 days. I did another 6 at 8:45 tonight after work and it was a very pleasant 75 degrees outside.

Total miles this week: 31 - still on track! I SO did not feel like running tonight but I'm glad I did.