Home arts shows give local flavor

CLOVIS - No county fair would be complete without a little local flavor on display - home-baked cookies, hand-sewn dresses, locally grown flowers or Lego dioramas.

Artwork, crafts, baked goods, food preserves, flower displays and more poured into the House Crafts building of the Curry County Fairgrounds on Monday as part of this year's Home Arts show.

These projects, from children and adults alike, will line the halls of the House Crafts building for the duration of the fair. Local judges looked over entries and awarded those that stood out with ribbons, giving the winners a sense of accomplishment for their efforts and something for the rest to strive for next year.

Linda Belcher, who teaches home economics to local adults and 4-H members, was in charge of this year's arts show.

"It's important because our homemakers in this day and time have not been educated to do certain things," Belcher said. "I have the opportunity to serve my clientele and teach people about what's important to me and that's family. Nutritious meals, financial, sewing, clothing, family resources and child development, any of those mean a lot to me."

Belcher said the show sees a lot of familiar faces every year, but the program always encourages more people to come and participate. Children age 5-19 can compete in age-appropriate categories and adults can submit different projects as well.

Karen Loper has three children in the 4-H program, whose various projects she carried into the House Crafts building to enter. Her girls, ages 10, 8 and 6, had an array of projects they worked on this year to enter into the fair.

They each baked their own cookies, made posters, created Christmas decorations or produced other crafts. Abigail Loper, even sewed her own skirt and tote bag.

"They meet other kids their age and they're learning tons of new skills," Karen Loper said. "I don't even know how to sew and it's amazing she learned. She was so proud she made her own skirt and modeled it. She had to gain some self confidence to do all that."

Jatonna Hankins enters several displays each year, but she entered one for this year that holds a special place in her heart. It's a yellow metal frame in the shape of a car that holds a potted plant.

"My niece was special needs and she passed away," Hankins said. "She had a yellow Mustang, but could never drive it. When she passed I painted that yellow and every year I plant something in memory of her."

Hankins is a retired UPS driver and also volunteers for 4-H during the fair. She said she loves flowers and that bringing them to show in the fair is a good way for her to share that love.