Chapter 1: Our Bountiful Harvest

This year, I proudly showcased an extensive collection of vegetables at our local Fall Fair, which has become one of my favorite traditions in our small rural community. Competing against talented growers is always a thrill, and I had the honor of designing the booklet cover for the event, which centered around the theme of backyard gardening.

The fair took place on August 18th, following nearly a month of drought. Our pond was low, and the summer heat took its toll on my plants. I had to prioritize watering, which meant sacrificing most of my flowers and some vegetables. The beans and cabbages struggled, the greens bolted, and my tomatoes faced both sunburn and blossom end rot. Despite these setbacks, there was a silver lining!

With my first season utilizing a proper greenhouse, the peppers thrived! My cherry tomatoes were abundant, and some flowers managed to bloom. Additionally, my garlic flourished. Ultimately, I entered a total of 24 exhibits, primarily consisting of vegetables, along with a few fruits, flowers, and preserves. Although winning a trophy seemed unlikely, I was content with my entries. I chose not to participate in arts, crafts, or baking this year, as it would have been too demanding, and some say I might be a professional artist anyway.

I received invaluable advice from a seasoned grower, who has been competing for over 25 years and has his name on many trophies: uniformity is key. Heeding this advice, I focused on presenting the most uniform produce possible—and it paid off!

Video Description: "Blue Ribbon Vegetables at the 2023 MN State Fair" featuring expert insights from Garden Guy Dale.

We achieved several blue ribbons for our vegetables! My most cherished ribbon was awarded for my 'basket of produce featuring more than six different varieties,' especially since I had struggled with this category last year. This time, I filled the basket with all the best items we had that didn’t warrant a separate entry, including a few unusual finds.

Some of our other notable blue ribbon achievements included:

• Chanteney Carrot — Short Stuff from Renee's Garden

• Heirloom Italian Sweet Peppers — Sunset from Renee's Garden (not fully ripe, but delicious)

• The largest zucchini! A dark green striped variety, possibly Romensco, from West Coast Seeds.

• Music Garlic from Vessey's

• Festival Acorn Squash from Renee's Garden

• Goji Berries, which I planted last year (sadly, no photo available).
• Celebration Swiss Chard from Johnny's Seeds (no photo available).

We also earned a few second and third place ribbons, although some entries, like my preserves, did not fare as well. Despite being tasty, they apparently lacked the "grandma level" quality needed to win in a highly competitive category.

Although I lingered until the fair's conclusion, I was wandering the market when they announced the trophy winners since I hadn’t entered the 'craft made from recycled materials' category, which I won last year. To my surprise, a friend rushed over to inform me that my name had been called! I was awarded the trophy for accumulating the most points in produce!

It was truly exhilarating! The competition was fierce, and even though my flowers and preserves didn’t perform well, I was astounded by our overall achievement.

I take immense pride in our garden this year, despite the challenges faced along the way. Gardening often involves battling the unpredictable forces of nature. However, with eight years of experience under my belt, this year stands out, largely thanks to improvements like a sturdy fence, a greenhouse, compost, and more space. I owe a lot to my wonderful husband, who has helped immensely, and to my little one who follows me around "gardening."

Looking ahead, I am already planning for next year, confident that it will be even better with even more garden space. Here’s hoping we can keep the trophy!

Thank you for taking the time to read my musings! I genuinely appreciate it, and I hope to continue sharing my journey on Medium.

Chapter 2: A Celebration of Arts and Crafts

Video Description: "GTU explores the blue ribbon arts and crafts at the 2023 Utah State Fair," showcasing creative talents at the fair.