4 • The Beacon September 30 , 2021
Entering items in the art hall is a fun and exciting experience
By Jen Jones
TheCoshoctonBeaconToday . com
For many local people , the
Coshocton County Fair brings an exciting opportunity — the chance to enter items in the art hall and compete against others for the chance to win a ribbon . The art hall has many classes of items that can be entered , from photography , antiques , drawing , flowers and baked goods to many handmade items .
JeanAnn Dunlap began entering items in the county fair in 1985 or ‘ 86 .
“ I had a real cute picture of my son and niece holding hands , walking across the aqueduct bridge . In the ‘ 90s I entered lots of craft items — cross stitch , gift wrapping , centerpieces ,” she said .
Her 10-year-old son entered his Hot Wheels collection one year .
Dunlap moved away from Coshocton in 1997 for several years , but when she moved back , she started entering items again in 2014 with her husband . They began entering photos they had taken .
“ I have 12 ribbon-winning pictures ; two are first place . My husband and I hit the road whenever possible , with our cameras , all the while joking , ‘ This one could be a ribbon winner .’”
Dunlap still enters crafts , and once , she entered her button collection .
“ I made a yo-yo quilt that my sister wanted really bad . I told her I would give it to her after I entered it in the fair . It won third place . I kept the ribbon and gave her the quilt . It had 1,026 yo-yos with a button on each one .”
Dunlap said she is most proud of her photographs . “ Not just the pictures , but the memories of taking them — that go with them ,” she said .
Mary Thomas first entered photography in the fair about 15 years ago . She also has entered food in the baking and canning categories .
“ The art hall , ag hall and livestock have always been my favorite parts of the fair . It ’ s what I think actually makes our fair . But it also takes people entering projects for there to be something to look at while walking through the buildings . So that ’ s really the reason I started entering . If people want to
JeanAnn Dunlap displays a quilt she once entered in the Coshocton County Fair .
have a nice fair , then we need to all help make it a nice fair worth visiting ,” Thomas said .
Thomas said she has had several things place in the top three over the years , and she is planning to enter baked goods this year .
Jeanie Stokes began entering items in the fair in 2002 . “ I guess I decided to enter when I met my husband . We live within walking distance and go every day . I just thought it would be something fun to do . I have entered many things over the years such as ceramics , gift wrapping , hobby ( card making ) and baking ,” she said .
Stokes said her most memorable item was one she entered her first year . “ It was a coffee cake that was in the baking contest recipe . Everyone has to use the same recipe . I couldn ’ t believe it when I was notified that I had won . The prize was an Anchor Hocking covered cake plate commemorating 100 years of 4-H . I was told there were 25 entries , so that was quite a shock to say the least . I still proudly display it on my hutch ,” she said .
Stokes is planning on entering items this year but isn ’ t sure how many . “ My hope is that our younger generation will take an interest and keep the traditions of our great Coshocton County Fair
The art hall has many classes of items that can be entered , from photography , antiques , drawing , flowers and baked goods to many handmade items .
“
The art hall , ag hall and livestock have always been my favorite parts of the fair .”
Mary Thomas
File
Submitted alive ,” she said .
The first year Sherri Gibson entered items in the county fair was actually a family affair with her two daughters . “ I entered a patriotic quilt sampler ,” she said .
Her daughter , Taylor , entered a pastel drawing . Jessie , her other daughter , entered a bouncy ball collection and a picture of a butterfly . “ We won ribbons , and we were hooked . It became a varsity sport for us ,” Gibson said . They first entered in 2006 . “ I have entered lots of things but have had the most success with quilted items and photography . The girls and I have dabbled with so many fun categories over the years : needle arts , wrapped gifts , visual arts , collections and even antiques ,” Gibson said .
Gibson said one category stole the show for their family — the single silk flower arrangement category . “ At first , I couldn ’ t believe it was a real category , but once I started entering , I realized there was an unlimited number of ways to display a single flower to try to make it stand out from the rest . We had lots of laughs , and still do , over some of my entries . The single silk flower category no longer exists , but I still plan to enter a few items in the art hall this year . It ’ s a great place for makers to share their talents ,” she said .