Published: July 02, 2008 10:30 pm         

79th Annual Vigo County Fair under way

4-H fashion revue kicks off festivities

TERRE HAUTE — Although it doesn’t start for three days, the 79th Annual Vigo County Fair was well under way Wednesday with the 4-H fashion revue.

One by one, 4-Hers lined up with their homemade apparel for it to be judged before they put it on to walk down the runway for more judges. Apparel was first judged on how neatly it was sewn before the creators put on their projects to be judged for color, style, accessories, how well it looked on the designer and the 4-Her’s poise.

“It’s fun to see them come back year after year and see their poise on stage,” said Lana Frazier, Purdue Extension Office’s 4-H youth development educator.

Saturday, 4-Hers will be judged on the non-wearables they made such as pillows, blankets or pot holders. Another category they can be judged in is consumer clothing, in which the 4-Hers purchase an outfit and are judged on how well it suits their body types and the type of deal they got on their purchase, Frazier said.

For this category, clothes could also be made for other people or pets.

Makayla Herring, 11, of West Terre Haute made matching sun dresses for her and her 4-year-old sister, a bag and a shirt. She also has a pillow at home for the non-wearable category, she said.

Herring, a three-year 4-H member, said she likes 4-H because it gives her the chance to make new things and meet new friends.

“I might,” Herring said about taking a career path in fashion, “because I really like making new things. I love sewing.”

Last year, Herring was the grand champion in the non-wearable category with some place mats.

Advice she had for first-time sewers was to go to 4-H workshops if they have the chance “because they teach a lot and help you,” she said. “I think they’d have fun doing it because they’ll probably make new friends just like I did.”

It was at one of those workshops that 10-year-old Hayley Tague learned how to make the chili pepper barbecue apron she wore for judges. She also wore a sombrero lined with matching chili pepper fabric, and chili pepper glasses. She carried a serving dish shaped like a chili pepper and tongs.

“It’s a lot of fun,” the Terre Haute resident said about 4-H. “… I never knew it was this easy to make a barbecue apron until I went to the workshop, and it was really fun.”

Tague, a two-year 4-H member, said she got the idea when she saw some girls with chili peppers on their clothes a couple of years ago.

“Since it was kind of a Mexican theme, I thought a sombrero would be nice,” she said, noting she found the serving dish and sunglasses when she was looking for the fabric at the store.

Her advice for first-time sewers is to buy a large seamer because it makes a big difference.

Landen Turner, 10, of Terre Haute also donned an apron for his runway walk. He said it was the only “boy thing” he learned to make. His apron was denim with copper spots. He also wore a chef’s hat and carried a spatula.

He said it’s “kind of weird” being one of the only boys in that category, but still fun. “I like sewing,” Turner said.

Turner advised first-time sewers to remember to put the boot down on their sewing machines or “it will go all over the place.”

Entrants in the fashion event will get awards Monday and will be featured in a public fashion show at 7 p.m. in the 4-H show arena.

This year’s fair, sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College, starts Sunday and runs through July 12. Each day’s events have different sponsors.

One particular day organizers are excited for is Military Day, which is set for July 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Area school-aged children of deployed soldiers will receive tours of all the barns, participate in various activities, have lunch and ride in the lead float of the 4-H parade. They also will receive a backpack filled with different goodies, such as a camera and stuffed animals.

“It’s just our way of saying thank you for the sacrifices that these children have to make,” Frazier said. “That they, in their own way, are heroes, and sometimes they’re forgotten heroes.”

This is the first time the fair has hosted a military day, part of Purdue University’s Operation Military Kids national program, Frazier said. Pre-registration for the military events are encouraged, but registration will also be available at 10 a.m. July 10. Call the Vigo County Fairgrounds Office at (812) 232-9627 to register.

The Baker’s Best contest takes place July 9.

Though this will be the second year for the Baker’s Best contest, there is something new to it. All entries become property of the Vigo County Extension Homemakers and will be auctioned off later in the evening, said Deanna Franklin, Purdue Extension Office’s consumer and family science educator.

Proceeds from the auction will go toward improvements in the women’s building, she said. There is no entry fee for the contest.

For more information, visit www.vigofair.com.

Crystal Garcia can be reached at (812) 231-4271 or crystal.garcia@tribstar.com.