Dixie Allen has been entering the Anson County Ag Fair since it started, “tryin’ hard to win an orange ribbon (Best of Show), never winning an orange ribbon.”

“This year I got two!” she said excitedly at the Cooperative Extension office Saturday afternoon. “I’m so tickled to get those two orange ribbons, finally!”

Last year, Allen said she won a green ribbon, which is a step below. She also received on this year.

Retired from working in county government, Allen said creating things for the fair is like her second job. This year, she entered 45 items — out of 248 entries from 53 total participants.

Her Best of Show winners were a cross-stitched map of South Carolina and an acrylic painting.

She also entered several photos and other craft items, which were displayed — along with canned goods and garden items, ranging from squash to watermelons — at the office.

Allen said she wasn’t told about winning anything before she walked in to look at the displays.

“And when turned around and saw my map, I hollered,” she said. “They went crazy, because the were waiting for me to see it…’cause they knew how hard I’ve been working year after year after year.”

She said her nephew entered a single photo one year and won an orange ribbon and last year, her sister-in-law just entered one thing with the same result.

“This is a big thing,” she said. “I’m wearing them to church tomorrow, one on each sleeve of my dress. And I really will put ‘em on my dress tonight.”

Allen said she and Hazel Morris, who attends the same church, have a friendly competition going. Morris also won a Best of Show ribbon.

“Her flowers are right between my two,” she laughed. “It’s all in good fun. I really enjoy this. I have to stay busy, and this gives me and activity to stay busy, so I look forward to this every year.”

She said she’s already started on entries for next year, adding that a lot of her crafts are used as Christmas presents.

Janine Rywak, county extension director, said there were the same amount of entries this year as there were last year, but there was a lot more variety.

“We had a lot more different things, some unique stuff we haven’t been seeing before,” she said. “But the excitement over out results today was probably a little moreso than it was last year, so, it’s been fun.”

She said when the event moved to it’s current location two years ago, participation dropped off, but is starting to pick back up.

“And the quality of our stuff this year is better than it’s been a being,” she said. “Even though we had the same number of entries, we paid out more in premium money than we did last year.”

According to Rywak, they paid out $873 in winnings.

Despite the heat, she said the turnout for the livestock show was better this year — since it’s rained the past three years.

Reach William R. Toler at 910-817-2675 and follow him on Twitter @William_r_toler.

Photos by William R. Toler | Anson Record The Best of Show table at the Anson County Ag Fair features two items from Dixie Allen, who has been trying for more than a decade to win an orange ribbon.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_anson_agfair.jpgPhotos by William R. Toler | Anson Record The Best of Show table at the Anson County Ag Fair features two items from Dixie Allen, who has been trying for more than a decade to win an orange ribbon.

A pie tin of bell peppers boasts a blue ribbon among the other entries on the veggie table.
https://ansonrecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_Ansonagfair2.jpgA pie tin of bell peppers boasts a blue ribbon among the other entries on the veggie table.

By William R. Toler

wtoler@civitasmedia.com

Want to see more?

To see more photos of the items from the Ag Fair, visit the Anson Record’s Facebook page. For a list of all the Best of Show Winners, visit AnsonRecord.com.