Hannah Barger shows her summer activities scrapbook, which she is going to enter into competition at the Sequatchie County Fair that begins Wednesday.
Photo by Corrina SiskIF YOU GO• What: Sequatchie County Fair• When: Opens noon CDT Wednesday through Saturday• Where: Heard Street, Dunlap, Tenn.• Hours: Tuesday, 6-10 p.m. CDT; Wednesday-Friday, noon-10 p.m. CDT; Saturday noon to 8:30 p.m. CDT• Cost: Tuesday-Friday gate admission $3, Saturday gate fee $5
DUNLAP, Tenn. -- Hannah Barger has spent all summer thinking about what she'll submit to the various contests in the Sequatchie County Fair.
One of her favorites is a scrapbook she put together of her summer activities.
"Every time I put a scrapbook in and usually a collage. One year I did pictures. I also do drawings and stuff like that from school," she said.
She said she enjoys participating in the fair because it feels good to win blue ribbons and money. The sixth-grader has been submitting her projects in the fair since she was in second grade.
"It just shows off how good of an artist or photographer you are," she said.
Fair adviser Jim Grudzen said the event is a big deal for people in the area. Each year, he puts the entries into the computer, and there are several names that he anticipates will show up, he said.
"There are so many categories between handicrafts and art, there are some who enter like 20 things or more," he said.
Judges are not from the area. Judges must be from at least two counties away. No person from an adjoining county, such as Marion or Bledsoe, may judge.
"It keeps it as fair as we can make it," Grudzen said.
Everything will be entered today. On Tuesday, the hall is closed for judging. By Wednesday afternoon, the fair will be in full swing. The halls will be open for people to see if they won, and the carnival rides and food stands will be open, too.
The fair includes all age groups from infants to seniors. It kicked off with the Fairest of the Fair contest on Saturday.
Throughout its duration, the fair offers a variety of events from exhibits to the carnival and a pet show on Friday. This year the fair added something new, a Youth Rally Night.
"Some of the youth groups will be doing gospel, dance, whatever they're going to do," Grudzen said.
He said people come to the fair for various reasons, but he thinks the No. 1 draw is that it's a great place to take a family. And it's a place that still holds old-fashioned values, Grudzen said.
"We have some amazingly gifted, talented people. If you want to see some of the most beautiful quilts, there is stuff every night," he said. "Put the little kids on the rides, have a hot dog and some cotton candy, or see the stuff in the gym. It's just a fun place to be."
Corrina Sisk-Casson is based in Dunlap. She may be reached at corrinacasson1@aol.com.