Think you’ve got a green thumb? Know your way around the kitchen? Fancy yourself a quilter? The 85th annual Southeast Arkansas District Fair & Livestock Show could be your time to shine.
The fair will open to the public at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Hestand Stadium. Admission is free until 4 p.m. There will be a $5 gate fee afterward.
Also at Hestand Stadium, the carnival will be held Tuesday through Sept. 28 and the rodeo is Sept. 27-28, according to the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
Meanwhile at the fair, competition judges will accept entries in home economics and horticulture individual education from 2-6 p.m. Sunday.
Residents from 17 counties are eligible to enter the Southeast District Fair, including Arkansas, Ashley, Bradley, Calhoun, Chicot, Cleveland, Dallas, Desha, Drew, Faulkner, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Lonoke, Ouachita, Prairie and Pulaski County. Residents should only enter well-made, new items.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“The home economics categories correspond with those judged at the Arkansas State Fair,” said Mary Ann Kizer, family and consumer sciences extension agent for the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service, part of the UA Division of Agriculture.
Kizer is also the home economics superintendent for the district fair.
Home Economics Departments and assistant superintendents include:
Art – Claudia Clark, Karen Gray and Jo Segars;
Baked Goods – Susan Carolan, Tracy Diaz and Nancy Rosen;
Crafts, Adults – Barbra Freeman, Joyce Johnson, Delores Kelley, Peyton King, Linda Murray and Brenda Robinson;
Crafts, Youth – Connie Herrin, Kaye Richardson, Lori Rositti and Jenny Wright;
Creative Stitchery & Sewing – Sarah Payton and Frances Smith;
Crochet and Knitting – Terri Penna and Sandy Smith;
Food Preservation and Honey – Jody Stout and Lynda Toler;
Photography – Jo Ann Carr, Tonia Daby and Marnette Reed;
Quilts – Patsy Brown, Brenda Hendrix and Dianna Winfree;
Woodworking, Home Furnishings – Audrey Armstrong, Kathryn Brown and Margaret Thomas;
Youth, Juniors, and Adults with Disabilities – Dee Kindrick.
Teki Hunt will be the horticulture superintendent. Assistant horticulture superintendents include Maxine Graves and Miriam Lester.
Horticulture categories include:
Ornamental Horticulture – Flowers & Floral Arrangements, Potted or Hanging Ornamental Plants;
Horticulture – Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts.
Participants may compete in one of three age categories: Youth (12 years old and younger), Junior (13-18 years) and Adult (19 years and older).
Save time by completing entry forms and entry tags before coming to the fairgrounds. Contact the local Cooperative Extension Service office for entry forms and tags.
Photography entries must be eight by 10 inches and matted within an 11 by 14-inch mat. They must have a stiff backing, no thicker than mat board. Judges will not accept entries that are framed or include glass.
Home economics individual educational entries will be judged on Monday. Winning entries will receive a blue, red or white ribbon and a monetary award. Grand Awards will include $100 for adults, $75 for juniors and $50 for youth entries.
Quilts may be hand or machine quilted. The food preparation category will accept edible baked goods that will be tasted for quality. Only six cookies are needed to enter the cookie division. Cakes must be entered whole but may be picked up after judging with only a few slices left for display.
Only clear glass jars will be accepted in the food preservation category so the quality of fruit and vegetables can be judged without opening the jars. Be sure rims are free of rust.
Home economics and horticulture fair entries must be picked up Sept. 29, between 2-5 p.m.
Other activities at this year’s fair include:
WINTER NIGHT PAINTING — Tuesday from 6-8 p.m.
The session will be taught by Troy DeBill. The cost is $20 per person. Call (870) 534-1033 to preregister and mail checks to JCEHC, 509 West St., White Hall, AR, 71602.
COMMUNITY CHURCH SERVICE — Wednesday from 6-8 p.m.
The service will held at Hestand Stadium Arena and led by Justin Wendell, pastor of Pursuit Church of White Hall.
COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR & PRE-SCHOOL DAY — THURSDAY from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the business building.
The Pine Bluff Fire and Emergency Services Department will be there with a fire truck and the Burn House. Pine Bluff Police will bring their Money Machine. The Audubon Society will assist in making bird feeders, Trinity Episcopal Church will teach sand art and the Delta Rivers Nature Center will bring an exhibit. A petting zoo will be outdoors.
Vendors include Area Agency on Aging of Southeast Arkansas, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Future Builders – HIV, Tobacco, & Retired senior Volunteer Program, Gentiva Hospice, Pine Bluff Arsenal & Army Community Service, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical School, South Central Center on Aging and Veterans Affairs Community Residential Care, Jefferson Regional Medical Center’s Jones Dunklin Cancer Center, Southeast Arkansas Transportation, Hope of the Delta and Arkansas Health Department.
UAPB nursing students will provide free blood pressure screenings.
The Pine Bluff Diamond Line Dancers, Divine Dancers of the Delta and David Rodgers and Friends Band will entertain. Several area banks will provide lunch free of charge, including FBT banker Scotty Ray, who will grill hot dogs. Relyance Bank will serve drinks and Simmons Bank will provide chips and dessert.
SEPT. 28 ACTIVITIES
Events on Sept. 28 include a sweet potato bake-off contest, with entries in cakes, pies, cookies and quick breads accepted from 11 a.m. to noon. Judging will follow.
Jefferson County extension agent Timothy Wallace will chair a talent show and will accept entries beginning at 5:30 p.m. The cost per entry is $15.
Details: For entry forms, visit the Jefferson County Extension Office at 500 S. Idaho St., call (870) 534-1033 or email mkizer@uada.edu. Entry tags are at the Extension Office and will be available at check-in on Sunday.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact a local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.