Fair’s Creative Culinary Department announces new contests for 2010 Fair

Spencer, Iowa – Unique and exciting Creative Culinary contests are sure to challenge exhibitors of all ages at the 2010 Clay County Fair.

The first of many new contests is the “Best Lasagna Contest”, sponsored by Royal Prestige. Entrants are encouraged to create whatever lasagna they enjoy most; be it meat, vegetable, cheese or any other combination. First place will receive a liquid core electric skillet valued at $400, second place will receive a five-piece cutlery set and third place will receive a seven-piece bakeware set. The contest will be on Friday, September 17. Each contestant will receive a gift from Royal Prestige

Another new competition, “Decorate Your House for the Holidays!”, will be for youth in grades 3-8. This contest is sponsored by Kay Kracht, Mary Dannatt and Cindy Pingel and will have two groups; kids in grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. Each individual will be given a pre-made gingerbread house and all the things necessary to decorate it. The contest allows a maximum of 18 entrants, so pre-registration is suggested but not required. You may do so by calling Gayle Simons at 712-260-7011 or stopping by the Oven Products Department prior to 12:00 noon on Sunday, September 19.

King Arthur Flour will be sponsoring a new competition using the recipe, “Classic Cinnamon-Nut Coffee Cake”. There will be two categories; one for adults and one for juniors ages 12-17. The contest requires the use of King Arthur Flour and the recipe printed in the premium book. Additionally, there will be a similar contest for juniors called “Favorite Chip Cookies Contest”. This contest will also require the use of a recipe printed in the premium book, but will also give different options for chips to add to the dough. All prizes for the contests will be provided by King Arthur Flour.

A favorite contest will again return this year; the “$1,000 Cinnamon Roll Contest” held on Monday, September 13. Farmers Savings Bank of Fostoria and Milford will sponsor the $1,000 award going to the first place entry. Tone Brothers will sponsor the second place rolls with a $500 prize and Bill Murphy of Edward Jones will be providing the $250 cash prize for third place. New to this year’s contest will be the awarding of seven honorable mentions with $10.00 prizes for each. 

The “Awesome Appetizer Contest”, sponsored by Signe Kim Lauridsen-Jones of Okoboji, is set to be held the morning of Wednesday, September 15. Either warm or cold appetizers may be entered, but must include corn and be presented on something that highlights corn. Prizes include $500 for first place, $300 for second place, $125 for third place, $50 for fourth place and $25 for fifth place.

Another great contest returning will be the “Salsa Contest – You Be the Judge!” The contest will again be held in the U.S. Cellular Plaza on Saturday, September 18 at 12:30 p.m. For two hours fairgoers will become official judges as they get to taste all the salsas for a $3.00 fee that goes to the American Red Cross, Iowa Chapter. Judges will receive a bottle of water, tortilla chips and eight voting tokens to use at their discretion. Entrants need to bring two quarts of their own fruit or vegetable salsas, either fresh or canned, between 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. First place will receive $75.00, second $50.00 and third $25.00 all courtesy of Del’s Garden Center. New to the contest this year, everyone who enters a salsa gets a ticket to ride down the new Giant Slide.

Other contests returning this year include “Mrs. Grimes Chili Contest” on Sunday, September 19, “Pork Breakfast Casserole Contest” sponsored by Clay County Pork Producers, “My Favorite Meat Loaf Contest” sponsored by Clay County Cattlemen, the “David Ludwig Sweet Potato Dessert Contest”, the “C&H Brown Sugar Entrée Contest”, the “Blue Bunny Frozen Dessert Contest”, the “Cookies With No Gluten (No Wheat) Contest” sponsored by Hannah Marie Country Inn with a first prize of one nights lodging at their bed and breakfast, the “Foods Made With Honey Contest” sponsored by the Northwest Iowa Beekeepers, the “Bruce Piper Banana Cream Pie Contest” and the “Busy Woman’s Quick & Easy Dessert Contest” sponsored by Creative Ideas Cookbooks. There will be total of 17 different contests throughout the week of the Fair.     

This year the Creative Culinary Department will also feature special presentations during the fair. On Sunday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m. RFD-TV cooking host, Linda Burgett, will be presenting in the judging area of the Creative Living Center. Also at 3:00 p.m. that same day, Julie Wurr from Laurens will present “Wine 101”. In October 2008 Julie was inducted into the Brotherhood of the Faugeres Wine Association in France.

Additionally, the department will be accepting baked goods and decorated cakes on Friday, September 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the east door of the Creative Living Center. This year recipes are necessary for all oven products. Thursday, September 16, cream pies and layered cakes are entered and judged. Canned Goods will be received on Tuesday, September 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the east door of the Creative Living Center.

Kitchen Craft will be donating a bakeware item to each of the 20 sweepstake winners. Royal Wedding Chapel is sponsoring the premiums for wedding cakes in each of the cake decorating classes and Julie’s Diner will sponsor the premiums for all the junior pie entries.

All Creative Culinary exhibits will be on display in the Creative Living Center throughout the entire fair. Any questions regarding the Creative Culinary Department may be directed to Gayle Simons at 712-260-7011. Additional information on contests and classes can be found in the Creative Culinary premium books. Books may be picked up at the Clay County Fair office or accessed online at www.claycountyfair.com.

The 2010 Clay County Fair runs September 11-19. For additional information visit www.claycountyfair.com or call 712-262-4740.