Pictured sitting, from left, are Jan Godshalk, Marsha Miller, Alice Keirn, Amy Thompson, Teresa Landis, Kendra Thompson, Deb Schroeder, Marvene Johnson, Julie Popenfoose, Katherine Dwyer, Robin Hoffer, Judy Egolf, Teresa Zurcher, and Laurie Reiner. Pictured standing, from left, are Robin Shafer, Sue Martin and Dawn Harris. Photo provided.

News Release

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Extension Homemakers Club is preparing for Open Class exhibits and competition at this year’s county fair, July 7-13.

Anyone can enter Open Class competitions at the fair. You do not need to live in Kosciusko County or be an extension homemaker.

The extension homemakers, who are responsible for the Open Class exhibits in the Home & Family Arts Building on the fairgrounds, recently held a meeting as they plan for the event.

Sue Martin, Home & Family Arts Building director, and Robin Shafer, assistant director, conducted the informational meeting with department superintendents of the Open Class exhibits.

The departments include:

• Agricultural, 12 classes
• Crafts, 10 classes
• Fine Arts, five classes
• Photography, five classes
• Food Preservation, nine classes
• Food Department, 11 classes
• Garden, Flowers & Plants, nine classes
• Herbs, five classes
• Needlework, including Quilts, nine classes, and other Needlework, eight classes
• Sewing, 10 classes

Champions are chosen in each class and Best of Show is awarded in each department.

Every department has a youth class, for children ages 10 and younger, and a junior class, for children ages 11-17. Members of the 4-H program are eligible to make entries.

Check-in for entries will be from 8-11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 6. Entrants are asked to use the east door of the Home & Family Arts Building.

Judging will start at noon Saturday, July 6, and continue until complete.

During fair week, the Home & Family Arts Building will be open from noon to 8 p.m. July 8, 9, 11 and 12. On Senior Day, Wednesday, July 10, the building will be open from 10:10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Special events are being planned at the Home & Family Arts Building. From 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, a free Make It and Take It event will give people the opportunity to make a star decoration and take it home with them. From 1-3 p.m. Thursday, July 11, the Knitting Together event will let knitters join extension homemakers for knitting and to get help with any projects they’re working on.

Raffle and silent auction winners will be announced shortly after 5 p.m. Friday, July 12.

An award will be given to the extension homemaker who entered the most exhibits.

New this year, an exhibitor who is not a member of the Extension Homemakers Club and who entered the most exhibits will also receive an award.

All entries will be released from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13. There will be no additional release dates.