MADISON – The winners of this year’s Madison County Fair open class shows have been announced.
This event was held in the Octagon Building at the Madison County Fairgrounds. Award winners received blue, red, or white ribbons from the judges of each division. Grand and reserve winners were also named and received ribbons.
A meaningful quality ribbon included the Octagon building in the center of the rosette. Additionally, all exhibitors received a wooden nickel with the building on one side and the words “Madison County Fair 2024 Open Class Exhibitors” on the other.
There were many positive comments about this change. Exhibitors appreciated the new design and added that it was a welcome change from the usual. This tradition will be continued at future fairs.
The winners are:
Agriculture and Horticulture – Kenneth Volk, Grand Prize Winner; June Mock, Reserve Winner. Floriculture – Nancy Wragge, Grand Prize Winner; Kenneth Volk, Reserve Winner. Food – Cathy Dusel-Podliska, Grand Prize Winner; June Mock, Reserve Winner. Food Preservation – Cathy Dusel-Podliska, Grand Prize Winner; Mary Thomsen, Reserve Winner. Textiles – Joyce Eucker, Grand Prize Winner; Karen Larang, Reserve Winner. Quilts – Becky Beckmann, Grand Prize Winner; Marian Estrada, Reserve Winner. Photography – Serenity Strong, Grand Prize Winner; Christine Knapp, Reserve Winner. Fine Arts and Crafts – Joseph Krings, Grand Prize Winner; Stacey Frisch, Reserve Winner.
The annual Esther Schulz Memorial Award is given to the participant with the most submitted exhibits. Mary Thomsen won first place with 298 objects, June Mock took second place with 223 objects, and Diana Ainsworth came in third place with 108 objects.
The Elaine Schulz Memorial Award recognizes the best workmanship in knitting and crochet work. Marg Brungardt won first place, Karen Larang came second and Linda Jones came third.
The County Piecemakers Quilt Guild presented the County Fair Award for Best Quilt Piece. Winners were Becky Beckmann and Katie Wilson.
Special Superintendent’s Awards are given to exhibitors in various departments and presented by Open Class Sponsors. The District Fair received 73 sponsorship certificates.
“A heartfelt thank you to all of the sponsors for promoting us to open class exhibitors,” said Les Schulz and Kendra Barnes, county fair open class exhibit coordinators, in a press release. “We thank all of the exhibitors for their outstanding work presented at the 2024 Madison County Fair. We realize that your efforts to create and present this outstanding work of art take many hours. You are all winners. It takes courage to display your exhibits in front of many visitors. There have been many kind comments.
“Our doors are open for the next county fair in 2025. The Open Class group is preparing to challenge all residents: ‘Let’s make the 2025 fair another great year for Open Class exhibitions.'”
