Heritage Arts

The MontanaFair Heritage Arts exhibits will take fairgoers back to the honest-to-goodness roots of the county fair tradition. This is where local cooks, bakers, gardeners and craftspeople display their handiwork and vie for a coveted blue ribbon. The competition includes three departments: culinary, horticulture and needlework.

If it can be baked or canned, there’s probably a category for it in the culinary department. Entries include pies, pickles, cakes and cookies, bread, biscuits and even beer and wine.

In the horticulture department, local gardeners can show off their prized roses or big-as-a-dinner plate dahlias. Vegetables are also included in the judging, with specific instructions spelled out in the handbook, which says, “parsnips should be small and of great length.”

The needlework department is all for the “warm fuzzies” with quilts, hand-knit sweaters, crocheted stocking caps and hand and machine sewn clothing. A catch-all novelty category includes crafts such as candle making, handmade toys, basket weaving and scrapbooking.

Several of the exhibitors in the Heritage Arts have been entering their handiwork in the fair for more than 30 years.

For more information contact Vonnie Casey at 254-8584 or 208-4451.