Goodies on display

Culinary booth features local homemade goods

Crystal R. Albers
Posted 7/28/17

The culinary booth at the Goshen County Fair is all about tradition.

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Goodies on display

Culinary booth features local homemade goods

Posted

GOSHEN COUNTY – The culinary booth at the Goshen County Fair is all about tradition.
Volunteer Kriss Hovis has been representing the LaGrange Homemakers Club at the event for nine years – despite not being a member herself. She has plenty of fond memories of her time checking in, organizing and tasting homemade goodies from around the county.
“Kerri Rose brings in that cake every year,” she said, pointing to a white cake covered in plastic wrap. “She also brings in the best-ever rolls.
“The Steben family always brings in lots of stuff, as well as Mrs. Lira, who brings items for the contest and a plate for the clerks.”
Hovis recalled gingerbread houses, elaborately decorated cakes and more.

“I’m always excited to see preservation (submissions), and how they are done,” she said. “I haven’t seen any game meat yet this year, but canned meat, it’s a tough one to do. (Canning) is something that’s still in play in our county.”
Hovis said one year, canned good submissions consisted of all salsa.
“We don’t open the cans,” she explained. “We judge from the outside, as we don’t have refrigeration.”
Judges sample other submissions for taste and texture.
Occasionally, people want to try to the treats they see at the booth, but Hovis said it simply isn’t “food safe.”
“One year, we had a little boy who tasted one of his grandma’s cookies (she’d submitted) and possibly something else,” she said. “He’d probably ate tons of his grandma’s cookies in the past, but he got sick.”
Wednesday, the Ag Hall closed at 10 a.m. for judging of flowers, vegetables and culinary projects.
“Items can be cross-entered,” Hovis said. 4-H members who submit projects at the 4-H building can also present items for judging at Ag Hall.
“It’s open class – criteria is in the fair book, but anyone of any age can submit something,” Hovis said as another entrant placed a batch of goodies on her table Wednesday morning. “It can be done up to the last minute.”