County fair days arrive

Roosevelt County Fairgrounds were abuzz with activity as community members were traveling to various buildings to place their entries for the upcoming fair that officially opens Wednesday.

In the Home Arts Building, several people were still working on the display booths that are available for various community organizations, 4-H clubs, extension clubs and businesses.

Dawn Kryder was busy setting up a booth that showcases the residents of the Heartland Continuing Care Center. According to Kryder, the group sets the booth each year at the fair as a way to let the community know that the nursing home is a place full of life for the residents, not a place for death. Something she says that many people do not realize.

“They need to know that it’s because they need assistance with living. It’s full of life, music and friendship. It’s amazing,” Kryder said of the nursing home.

Candyland was the theme for the Sweet Delicacies booth that superintendent Margie Blatnik was hard at work decorating for her category of the Home Arts Department. With a few entries already in, Blatnik continued to put finishing touches on her booth. Displayed in the Sweet Delicacies section are the community leaders’ cookie jar and the president’s candy box. The winning entries will be presented to members associated with the fair and the community, Blatnik said.

Frances Moore and Dian Hernandez, came by to enter their Texas Longhorns themed cookie jar. Moore stated that four girls in her cottage at the Baptist Children’s Home, choose to make the cookie jar and the six different cookies that were inside. The group made snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, peanut butter blossoms, lemon sugar, oatmeal and pecan sandy cookies. The girls definitely enjoyed preparing the cookie jar, Moore said.

“It’s definitely made by the kids,” Moore said.

Across the way in the sewing department, co-superintendent Joyce Lee Fraze was busy taking entries in her department. A variety of clothes in all shapes, sizes and colors were already on display. So far, Fraze said that her department was seeing about the same number of entries as last year.

“It picks up the later it gets,” Fraze said.

Entry deadline was 6 p.m. Monday, with judging set to take place Monday night and this morning.