Fair exhibitors enter for fun — and possible ribbons

By mid-afternoon Tuesday, the glitzy rides and inviting food booth covered the Craven County Jaycees Fairgrounds in preparation of Thursday’s opening of the Coastal Carolina Agriculture Fair.

Inside the main exhibition hall, folks from four counties were coming in with their entries — foods, crafts, vegetables and handiwork.

There were veterans of the county and state fair such as John and Patricia Cochran of Cove City, as well as relative newcomers like Mary Myers and her three children from Beaufort.

New and experienced, they say it’s all for the fun and experience. Of course, they don’t turn down ribbons if they come their way.

Patricia Cochran has more than 100 awards from 11 years entering her baked and canned goods and needlepoint in the state and Craven fairs.

Her 34 entries this year include varieties of cookies, fudge, cakes, biscuits and canned fruits and vegetables.

She began work on her needlepoint — blankets, sweaters and a doll — the day after the fair ended last year.

“It’s how I spend my spare time at night,” she said.

Her husband, John, entered some hot banana peppers and hot habanero peppers he grows.

“She does the work,” he said. “I do the growing and picking.”

He has quite a home garden, all in containers because of bad soil after Hurricane Floyd. He has 7-foot tomato plants and 5-foot pepper plants. They are still producing in mid-October.

He said his most important job has to do with his wife’s baked goods.

“I do the sampling,” he laughed. “I make sure they are fair quality. I tasted those cakes there, and they are all blue ribbon winners.”

The Myers family from Beaufort, Mary and her children ages 5, 8 and 11, are entering the fair as a family for the first time. The children have decorative sweet potatoes and art work, and at their urging, Mary entered her pickles and jams.

The children are active in 4-H and this was the first year all were old enough to enjoy the experience together, their mother said.

“We’re just having fun, doing it together,” she said. “It’s about family time, family values and seeing their work displayed.”

Mary and the children have experience in agriculture, helping her father George Gooding tend three gardens, a small pecan grove and a fruit orchard.

Shirley Purvis of New Bern sported one of the popular “Retired” sweatshirts, which she said was authentic for her after retiring as a captain of security for 18 years at Fairfield Harbour.

Her grandparents had entered county fairs when she was a child, and now she said it was her turn.

“It’s not about ribbons,” she said. “It is just the enjoyment of baking, canning and growing flowers.”

This is her third year entering the exhibits and she has already won some ribbons.

“But, being in the kitchen, that is my therapy,” she said.

Her husband John, retired from the Navy and county government, also entered this year. He grew a fern.

The exhibitors can continue to register at the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. until noon today.

Judging is Thursday. The fair, which runs for 11 days at the fairgrounds on U.S. 70 East, opens at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or chall@freedomenc.com.