Trying to spice up life at Floral Hall, Menzea Nielsen is challenging the youth and adults of Cedar County and neighboring communities to participate in any of five new events this year at the Cedar County Fair in Tipton.
Robotics, woodworking, welding, cake design as well as beer brewing & wine making have all been added to the competition ring at the fairgrounds’ Floral Hall during the July 10-14 fair.
Nielsen, who is chairman of the floral hall events, said she simply wanted to create more interest among youths and adults to bring more life to the fair. She said floral hall has traditionally held floral arrangement, vegetable, baking, photography and antique competitions, which will continue, but hopes the new categories bring some new interest to the fair.
Moving to Tipton eight years ago, she was raised in Keokuk County, where an expo is held annually with a variety of similar competitions and felt she needed to bring something new to Tipton, especially for youngsters who typically don’t raise and show farm animals or pets. “We’re just not seeing the participations as much from kids,” she said, hoping the new categories will spark interest. “It’s kinda sad.”
The new competitions will go along with new theme day events at Floral Hall that will start on Thursday, July 11, with a “Church Day,” where local churches are welcome to set up booths, hand out literature and other offerings while chatting with fair attendees.
On Friday, July 12, the theme is “May Day Baskets” and participants are welcome to work with floral experts to create a basket to be delivered to a local senior citizen resident for a donation.
Saturday, July 13, is “Yard Games Day,” where youngsters are welcome to participate in bag-tossing, life-size Jenga, Connect Four and other outside games on the grounds of Floral Hall.
Robotics – There are junior and open divisions in the robotics competition, where participants can build robotic items for any of three categories – original design, kit built or other robotics. Check-in is July 8-9 from noon-4 p.m. and July 10 from 7-9 a.m., with judging beginning that day at 11 a.m.
Woodworking – Junior and open divisions will also be held for woodworking competition, where participants are challenged in six categories including wooden toys, wood carving, wood burning, wood lawn ornaments, repurposed wood article and other woodworking items. Check-in is July 8 from noon to 4 p.m. and the following morning, July 9, from 8 a.m.-noon. Judging will take place that same day at 3 p.m.
Welding – Open and a junior class (ages 4-18) divisions will compete in three classifications including entry, advanced and expert level with youths split into three age groups: 4-9, 1014, 15-18. Judging will take place June 9 at 2 p.m. following check-in on July 8 from noon-4 p.m. and July 9 from 8 a.m.-noon.
Cake Design – This contest tests not only the skills of the baker, but the decorator as well, with the Cedar County Fair queen and her court doing the judging on July 11 at 10 a.m. Check-in is July 10 from noon to 5 p.m. or the following morning, July 11, from 7-9 a.m. There will also be a separate “ugly cake contest” testing the not so good skills of the decorator. Check-in is July 10 from noon to 5 p.m. or the following day from 7a.m to 1 p.m., with judging at 3 p.m. on July 11.
Homemade beer and wine – There will be six wine divisions for adults including red, white, rose, sparkling, dessert/sweet and other wines. There are four categories for beer including lager, ale, hybrid and other. Contestants are asked to bring a bottle of their creation to check in on July 11 from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. or July 12 from 7-11 a.m. Judging by the owners of Fireside Winery in Williamsburg will take place July 12 at 1 p.m.
