TORRINGTON – The Goshen County Fair Board launched a new project for the 2017 fair. They wanted to engage county youth, and consequently decided on a contest to design a logo and theme for this year’s event.
When Taryn Platt decided to enter the 2017 Goshen County Fair Logo contest, she called on the extraordinary knowledge of her outer space friend, Roger.
Considering that Goshen County is in the direct path of the Great American Eclipse, which will pass over the region a month after the fair, Platt decided to use the event as part of her entry. She already had an outer-space consultant at her fingertips -- Roger, a cartoon character the young artist developed a few years ago.
Platt said Roger left his home planet because his race ate people (the human kind), and he didn’t want to. He landed on earth, where a family of earthlings took him in. He did have a few adjustments to make, like not eating the family’s pet cat. But, Platt said he is adjusting quite well.
Getting back to the fair contest, Platt first experimented with ideas that included Roger. However, they just didn’t seem to fit the occasion. It didn’t take long, and in one afternoon, from only a few ideas on a page of her sketch pad, she chose “To the Moon and Back” as her theme, fronting the red and yellow glow of the sun behind the moon’s black shadow.
Poor Roger was left out of the final version, but, as a 4-H member, Taryn incorporated the 4-H and FFA logos.
Considering that she has focused on human portraits since becoming serious about her art talent six years ago, the logo has been a challenge.
“It was a cool experience,” Platt explained, standing under the canopy of her parents’ booth during a recent Farmer’s Market. “This was very different.”
However, it isn’t her first experience with fair art competition. She has entered Southeast Wyoming Art Association contests, and was grand champion in her class at the 2016 Wyoming State Fair. She will have entries in the 2017 Goshen County Fair, as well.
Platt will begin her senior year of studies as a home-schooled student this fall, and plans to attend an art college in Oregon where she will concentrate on animation skills.
A 9-year member of the Prairie Center 4-H Club, Platt has in the past, or still participates in hay exhibits (her family raises hay), liberal arts, cake decorating, horticulture, and this year has added fabric and fashion.
In addition to Taryn, the family includes parents, David and Kristine, her sister, Myriah, and brother, Garrett. They moved to Goshen County from the Fort Collins, Colo., area 15 years ago. Kristine explained that they home school because they live 32 miles north of Torrington.
Looking forward to a career as a concept artist, Platt said she has been encouraged by several people, including some who ask for advice.
“It’s kind of strange when people ask for advice,” Platt said. “But it’s cool to encourage young people.”
Stephanie Lofink, Goshen County Fair Manager, said the competition was established by the Goshen County Fair Board to encourage youth participation in the fair. It was promoted only in the county’s 4-H newsletter last fall, and Platt won $100 for her creation.
“She had the only entry, but if there had been 100, Taryn’s entry was so cute that it would have won.”
According to Lofink, the contest will be part of the 2018 fair.
