A BLUE RIBBON WEEK

Adair County residents of all ages made the most of their experiences at the 2024 Iowa State Fair, held Aug. 8-18 in Des Moines.

From 4-H entries to successfully baked cakes and fast-talking auctioneers, good results from the state fair were endless for area residents.

Adair County 4-Her Chloe Rardin finished first in the $20 challenge during the 2024 Awardrobe Clothing Event on the first day of the fair. She purchased the outfit at a consignment store for her cousin’s wedding. Taylor Rohrig of Orient also participated.

“I think Awardrobe is amazing to boost your communication skills by talking to other people through workshops,” Rardin told ISU Extension and Outreach. “It’s a great way to meet new people and teaches you that you don’t always have to buy things for expensive price tags and that you can often find things at a consignment store for a lot cheaper.”

State fair participants are nominated for the Awardrode Clothing Event through their county 4-H program. All exhibitors received participation award.

Rohrig also won reserve champion market barrow in the Iowa State Fair Hawkeye Show.

Katie Guisinger, who is a Stuart police officer and serves as West Central Valley’s school resource officer, took first place in the adult open cake baking contests in the captions of single cake; tiered cake; cookies, cupcakes, petite fours and cake balls; and wedding cakes. A nice topping for the cake was that she was awarded the sweepstakes award for best in show.

“I finally decided to enter the decorated cakes contest at the Iowa State Fair for the first time, this year, after thinking about it for years. I submitted six entries six entries, and I was pretty overwhelmed and excited to be awarded with not only five blue ribbons but with the sweepstakes for best in show, out of all 12 of the decorated cakes classes,” Guisinger said. “It’s nice to be rewarded for all the work I put into my entries, but also to be recognized among so many other talented cake decorators.”

The biggest bull, known as the Super Bull, had ties to Adair County again this year. Gary Ruebel of Des Moines owns the 3,064-pound animal named “Teddy Bear,” which originated at Nichols Farms near Bridgewater.

Hayden and Hudson Rochholz of Casey were second in the 3-year-old “Most Alike” division of the Twins, Triplets and More Contest, while Reese and Riley Wheatley of Massena were another area pair who took home the “Least Alike” award among 7- and 8-year-olds.

In the Auctioneers Contest, Chantz Davidson was the highest finishing Iowan, finishing third, behind Quest Flesher of Hannibal, Missouri and Tony Wisley of Perry, Oklahoma.

The late Ray Sorensen of Fontanelle and Eric Tiernan of Stuart were two of three longtime Hereford breeders to be honored by the Iowa Hereford Breeders Association during the Iowa State Fair.

In a ceremony Aug. 14, the organization dedicated a custom-created barn quilt given in memory of the Adair County duo and Dan McFarland of Fredericksburg.

Designed and created by Freedom Rock artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, who is Ray Sorensen’s grandson, the 8-by-8 feet barn quilt was given in memory of the three men by their families. They wished to honor their loved ones at a place that was dear to their hearts.

Five Adair County farms were designated as either century (100 years) or heritage (125 years) farms by the Iowa Department of Agriculture. New century farms for the county include the Kevin Ridler farm of Greenfield and the Larry Moss farm of Fontanelle. New heritage farms include the Craig and Kay Tracy farm of Orient; the Smith Family Farm of Menlo; and the Arnold Lewis farm of Stuart.

Grace Evans of Bridgewater was honored during the fair as Adair County’s inductee into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for her many years volunteering within the 4-H program.≈