County Fair Entry

First, some background. I submitted a quilt to my county fair this summer because I liked the idea of getting to see it on display. Okay, now read on to hear my ridiculous story.
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In the car, on the way to the Yamhill County Fair to see my quilt on exhibit, I explain to my husband, "No, I probably didn't get a ribbon. I saw on Chuck's Facebook two days ago that he already knew that he got a ribbon or prize for one of his photos so they must call the winners. Today's the first day that the fair is open and he already knew."

We pay our phenomenal entry price (phenomenal considering that I just want to take a picture beside my quilt) of ten bucks each. We wander beyond the food booths and rides and animals and find the pavilion with the arts and crafts entries. I'm expecting a grand display of quilts, an emporium of photographs and little plates and platters to display the pies and cookies and breads. I skimmed through the fair guide and was impressed by how varied (and old-fashioned) the entries were. I had some idea of what to expect.

Instead, the pavilion felt cluttered yet disappointingly empty. Bright white lights and a tile floor. Air-conditioned, however, so that was relieving. I saw the quilts clustered in one area. I went up to them. Scanned for my quilt. Found it.

Hell yeah! I won a Second Place ribbon at the County Fair!

... But wait. *walking around examining all the other quilt entries*
What? All the other quilts have a first place ribbon. Is this a joke? Ohmygod, my quilt is the joke. It's the only one that didn't win First Place.

"Zack, do all the other quilts have a first place ribbon." He had noticed this too and was secretly checking. He shrugged, "Yeah."

He tried to talk to the elderly woman in charge of the fabric entries to figure out how ribbons are awarded. "We have many different classes for these quilts. I take a look at them and....The pink ones* are from the ambassadors. They love to give out those ribbons to their favorites. Especially to the kids. It makes those kids feel so proud." *ribbons

Zack nudges me, "You should have entered as a child, Sam."
Gee, thanks.

We counted a total of 14 quilts there. It seems incredulous, that all but me earned first place. I went home and counted how many people could win a first place ribbon for a quilt. The qualifications for certain classes are so specific.
Quilt, machine-pieced, hand-quilted.
Quilt, machine-pieced, machine-quilted.
Quilt made by two people, machine-pieced, longarm-quilted.... etc.
Basically, yes, it was entirely possible. It was entirely possible for at least ten more quilts to win first place so long as they didn't overlap with the details of another one.

I must have been in a category of just 2 quilts. Two quilts under "Quilt, machine-pieced, machine-quilted." And I happen to be the bitter sap who got the short end of the stick.

I am very proud of that quilt and the quilting. I mean, I did it on my machine at home and I made it all converge into this star. How cool is that? The greater story of my quilt comes from seeing it whole. It's a simple pattern but intricately quilted. Bah. still trying to move on...

Anyway, next year I might volunteer to devise a way to hang up the quilts properly. They were mostly folded. You couldn't see any of the backings. The display was disappointing. If I'm going to pay to see my quilt lose, then I at least want to stand by it (not crouch by it) and have all of it displayed behind me.

I'm almost touching!

The whopping 14 quilts "on display"

 As bitter as I sound, I will say that I loved seeing all the other quilts. I wish I had taken note of the names of these fellow quilters for possible future friends. And by golly, yes, that quilt with the turquoise star and a circle of geese is Amazing!! Yes, I know. That quilter fully deserves that fancy ribbon in addition to her first place one.