Queen of the Show Pavilion Strikes Again

Since moving to the country I have tried to immerse myself in the community.  Hubby would say I have done that too well with all the committees I am on but that is another story.
For the last few years I have entered a few different things in our local show and I have won a number of prizes.
This year I entered some preserves, craft and produce and check out the results.
Bread and Butter Pickles - First
Strawberry Jam - Second
Chutney - No Place
Cards - 1 x First 2 No Place
Scrap-booking - 1 x Second 2 No Place and
Rosella's First and Second AND Champion Fruit Exhibit.
I was absolutely shocked.  I spoke to the show steward and he said that not only were my rosella's really fresh but they were in excellent condition.
I think it is really important to participate in activities like the local show when you live in a small community.  Many small towns struggle to keep these sort of events going as they compete for the disposable income of families and in recruiting the manpower to and volunteers to run the event.
I believe that if everyone entered just 2 or 3 entries then that is the difference between a small town show surviving or not.  And if you have a few hours to help out then all the better.

 Here are a couple of the cards I entered.  The first one was the winner.

I would love to know if you have a local show and if you enter or maybe you volunteer.

If you enter what do you enter?  Do you make a mean sponge or fruit cake?

Stiff Competition at the Show

Well another year of the local show has come and gone.
I spent a day working as a show steward setting up all the handcrafts.  There were lots of crochet, knitting and sewing entries as well as quilts, toys, and hand made cards.

Judging 

It was really interesting to hear what the judges were looking for in each entry and I took away a lot of pointers for any future entries, I might even help out in a different area next year (produce, flowers, or cookery)so I can hear what the judges are looking for in each section.  The ladies doing the judging were from the CWA and the few things that I can pass on to anyone else who might be entering something for CWA judging are:
Make sure there are no loose threads on any sewing,
If you are crocheting an edge on something make sure all your corners are the same,
Make sure you stick to any size limits specified,
And the more work involved the more points you get.
I am not sure that I would be in with any sort of a chance based on what I saw.  I am only a novice sewer and have only just learnt to crochet, so if I start now I might be ready for next years show.

A very cute entry in the "made from recycled materials"

On the day of the show my first port of call was the poultry exhibits.
I love the colour of this bantam she was very cute with very fluffy feet.

This rooster had the most striking colours and the pattern even affected his legs where he had both black and yellow scales.

 There were some lovely fluffy Cochin chickens.

And check out these strapping lads.They had such long legs and I am sure would not have looked out of place strutting down the catwalk, or is that the chicken walk?

And what of my entries?
Second for both my Bread and Butter Pickles and Cherry Chutney, third for my Eggs, sadly I missed out on placing with my other entries but there was a lot of competition and that is not really why I entered.  It is all about getting into the spirit of the event and having a go.  Every year I enter a few more things and I am already thinking about next year.

Do you enter in your local show?  What do you enter?

The Show - Defending My Title

Well it is that time again.  Show Time.

Last year I posted about being a complete novice at the local show and then about my results where I proclaimed to be "Queen of the Show Pavilion".

This year I have entered a few more categories because I was a bit more organised, not a lot but a bit.
This year I am entering some craft (scrapbooking and card making), some preserves (Cherry Chutney and Bread and Butter pickles), some eggs (where I got a first prize last year) and perhaps some Garlic.
Last year I had great success with my Rosella's winning first and second, but this year my first planting drowned in all the rain so the ones I replanted are not big enough yet to produce fruit.

In addition to being an entrant this year I have been asked to be a show steward.  This basically beans that I will be checking off entrants as they drop off their goods and following the judges around writing out place cards then keeping track of the winners so prizes can be allocated.

This year we have Colin Campbell from Gardening Australia coming to hold a talk on gardening which sadly I will miss due to work commitments


Even though our community is small the show is a great day out as there are plenty of people to catch up with who you don't see all the time and lots of exhibits to admire, my favourites are the chickens and the craft.

Do you go to a local show?
What are your favourite exhibits?

Just call me Queen of the Show Pavilion

Well I really was being quite cheeky when I suggested that I might win for my egg and Rosella entries at the local show.
But apparently my entries were worthy of a 1st and 2nd for Rosella's (yes you can enter as many times as you like) and a 1st for eggs.
I don't really think I should get all the credit though, if any. 
I sure didn't lay the eggs but I did pick the best ones and pack them in a carton, and as for the Rosella's, well they were the result of 5 seed in the ground, 4 that grew into bushes and produced fruit which I deftly picked weighed and packed for my 2 x 500 gm entries.

So what about my winnings?  $10 in total as well as little certificates that I can stick to the wall in the garden shed.  Not bad for my $3 entry fees.
I am planning more entries for next year so look out all you Gardner's in the district, I might have found my calling.

Off to the Show

This weekend is the annual country show for the town near where I live.
It is not a big show but if last year (the first year I attended as a spectator) was anything to go by, there are some keen gardeners and cooks in the area.
Last year I went only as a spectator but this year I am going to enter a couple of categories, Eggs and Rosella's since they are what I have.
This year I got hold of a show schedule for the pavilion section but not until it was way too late to think about entering most if not all of the categories. 
But it does give me a heads up for next year and allow me to plan my baking, preserving, planting and craft in time for next years show. 
If I plan things correctly and the weather favours me in the garden I will know as "Queen of the Show Pavilion" with my multiple and wonderful entries.
Am I taking this too seriously? (Keeping in mind that entry to each class is $1.00 and first prize is $4.00)
Well for now it is off to the show to drop in my entries for this year.  I will be going back on the weekend to check out the competition and to no doubt collect my winnings.  Over-confident?  Never.