The first thing that stands out about the 2008 Central States Fair children's floral arrangement category is the profusion of entries. Horticulture superintendents Tammy Glover and NanCee Maynard were pleased with the 21 entries in the children's division and the 493 overall entries that filled the exhibit shelves at the horticulture building.
"It's easy to see that we've had good rain this year," Glover said.
Considering the amount of rain and hail that the gardens endured earlier this summer, it's wonderful, Maynard said of the entries.
"Everybody is in such a good mood and the kid entries are up. … The quality and quantity was amazing," Maynard said.
The rain and somewhat cooler summer has helped produce bountiful mixes of flowers in a rainbow of colors, sizes and blooms. The arrangements that resulted were pretty nifty, too.
A simple lunch bucket overflowing with school supplies, an apple and just the right amount of sunny yellow sunflowers caught the judges' attention in the children's floral arrangement category.
For Colton Erk of Rapid City, it was enough to win the best of show award.
One of the judges said the young gardeners had done an excellent job: "It's nice to see kids participating in horticulture. And this (the lunch bucket arrangement) is fantastic."
In the children's arrangements, judges awarded 11 blue ribbons, seven red ribbons, two white and one participation ribbon.
"I think they're getting better, and we've had our share of boys enter, too," Glover said.
The arrangements were divided into categories for children ages 5-8 years, 9-12 and 13-17. They could enter in "Color Me Fun," "On Safari," "At the Rally" or "Back to School." Winners of these divisions received a gardener's bucket packed with tools and supplies, plus a $55 gift certificate supplied by Bear Country USA.
Glover described the majority of children entering as being first-time contestants at the fair. Home-schooled children as well as 4-H members entered the contest, Glover said.
"The kids were so excited bringing these entries here," said Cathy Robeson, a helper in the horticulture building.
She knew some of the contestants, and said they enjoyed working with flowers and figuring out a theme for their entries. She pointed out that the older children gravitated toward "At the Rally," while the younger set liked "Back to School" and "Color Me Fun."
All agreed that it took a lot of work to get the arrangements ready. The children have to read the directions, follow the guidelines and then they do the arrangements, Glover said.
"I'm thrilled with the participation, and these kids have done an excellent job," she said.
Children's fair winners
The 2008 Central State Fair awarded its bucket prizes to:
Ciglen Wheeler, Rapid City, ages 5 to 12, best of flowers or house plants.
Quirt Rice, New Underwood, ages 5 to 12, best vegetable.
Colton Erk, Rapid City, ages 9 to 12, best children's floral arrangement.
They competed with 46 other contestants and all but seven earned ribbons.
Contact Jomay Steen at 394-8418 or jomay.steen@rapidcityjournal.com.
