As the dust settles over our Kiowa County Fair, I can take a step back and say, “That was not that bad.” With this being the first fair for myself as the Kiowa County Extension Office Administrative Assistant and the first fair for Tearle Lessenden as the Extension Agent, that is my thought. I want to start off saying THANK YOU to Tearle for all his hard work! He has served many years on the Fair Board, but he tackled his new title and experience with determination and ease. Also THANK YOU, to my mom, Kathy Garrison, and sister, Kemma Alfano, for helping with the clerical work when our system program didn’t work! 

This year for Open Class Entries we had 90 Exhibitors, 732 entries, and 515 Premium Placing entries. That made our Eads Bucks Premium Ribbon payout $2818.00. 

If you did not get a chance to walk around the exhibit hall, let me tell you, you missed out! I have been to many fairs and I must say the Kiowa County Fair exhibits are a step above. 

From the Gardening, Field/Crops, Art, Photography, Antiques, Baked Goods, Food Preservation, Flowers, Quilting, Fancy Works, and 4-H Projects, we have some amazing talent in our community! I’m so glad that once a year those people share their hard work with us. I hope that more people will gain interest and enter next year. 

The fair is a big undertaking for the Fair Board and all their volunteers. The Open Class Exhibit Hall volunteers are just as important, and it takes many to make the whole system work. I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to our Open Class Committee. These individuals donate their time to set up, clean, and organize the hall and exhibits - Areta Laird, Gloria Peck, Sharon Scott, Joyce Berry, Alice Glover, Debbie Gooden, and Doris Lessenden. Most of these women have been volunteering their time in the open class exhibit hall for over 30 years. 

Thank you to all our Open Class Volunteers and Judges! 

Baked Goods: Judge- Bev Reyher, Superintendent- Alice Glover, Clerk- Alicia James
Food Preservation: Judge- Kaye Kasza, Superintendent- Susan Greenfield, Clerk- Donald Oswald
Fancy Works, Quilting, and Clothing: Judge- Mary Rhoades, Superintendent- Gloria Peck, Clerk- Carole Spady, Clerk- Wanda Lessenden
Art, Photography, and Hobby: Judge- Marilyn Gentz, Superintendent- Doris Lessenden, Clerk- Lynn Puls
Antiques: Judge- Linda Yoder, Superintendent- Areta Laird, Clerk- Terry Laird
Flowers: Judge- Carol Allen, Superintendent- Sharon Scott, Clerk- Amy Weirich
Garden and Crops/Fields: Judge- Kelly Roesch, Superintendent-  Debbie Gooden, Clerk- PJ Lessenden, Clerk- Courtney Johnson
Ages 0-18 Exhibits: Judge- Abby Weber, Superintendent- Zelpha Deines, Clerk- Kathy Specht

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering your time for the Kiowa County Fair Exhibit Hall, please call the Extension Office at 719-438-5321. Now is a perfect time to gain knowledge and experience from our volunteers that have been doing this for a long time. 

Thank you for your support and we will see you at the 2020 Kiowa County Fair and Rodeo!