Scarecrows can be hard to find but this one was spotted at the home of Carol and Doug Batten in Enterprise. Photo by Elane Dickenson

It’s scarecrow time in Wallowa County!

The upcoming Wallowa County Fair (Aug. 2-9) is introducing a variety of new events to increase community participation this year, especially in the open class fair, and one of them is billed as the “First Annual Scarecrow Contest.”

Residents are invited to pluck their old straw guardians from the garden or create brand new scarecrows just for the fair. Just to make the event enticing, in both the youth and adult divisions $50 will be awarded to best scarecrow entry, with $30 going to second place and $20 for third for the ‘crows judged to show the most originality, creativity and craftsmanship.

“County Fair – A Slice of Life” is this year’s fair theme and scarecrow makers may want to use that theme as an inspiration.

Speaking of “slice,” another new contest this year is the Watermelon Seed Spit-Off, scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9 near the food booth.

In addition to the ongoing Homemaker of the Fair award, which is open to exhibitors with entries in Food Preservation, Textiles, Baking and Horticulture, there are a couple of new contests to entice participation.

The Reatha McCormack Memorial Award will be given in honor of long-time fair volunteer and textile division superintendant Reatha McCormack for the first time. The honor will go to the overall Best of Show in the open class textile division, and each year the name of the winner will be inscribed on a memorial plaque and permanently displayed at Cloverleaf Hall.

Another new award is a cash prize of $100 to be presented to the exhibitor with the best group of open class exhibits at the 2003 fair.

Wallowa County residents of all ages are encouraged to pick up an official fair premium book at county post offices or in the Wallowa County Extension Office in Enterprise. If you grow flowers or vegetables, sew or knit, like to bake or can foods, take photographs, collect just about anything, paint pictures or work on crafts, there’s an open class division for you.

Nonperishable open class entries should be delivered to Cloverleaf Hall on Monday, Aug. 4, between 8 a.m. and noon, and bring in perishable exhibits from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Cloverleaf will open for public viewing at 9:30 a.m. every day Wednesday through Saturday of fair week, and close at 8 p.m. Open class exhibits will be released 2:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, the last day of the fair.

This year the Wallowa County Fair is initiating a food drive for the Wallowa County Food bank. Everyone attending or taking part in the fair is encouraged to bring in nonperishable canned and boxed foods to drop boxes in Cloverleaf and by the food booth. Everything donated will be placed on display during the fair.

How to make a scarecrow

Straw Scarecrow Cyndy shares these suggestions for creating a scarecrow stuffed with straw.

Materials Needed:

* Straw

* Twine

* Old plastic or plastic drop cloth

* Set of clothing for each child.

* Hats

* Pantyhose

* Safety pins

Instructions:

Spread the plastic cloth on the ground. Break up the bale of straw. I do this before the children arrive. It helps keep the straw from becoming part of the yard.

Tie the end of each sleeve, the bottom of the waist band and both legs with twine. This will help to keep the straw in the clothing. Have the children stuff straw into their clothing. When each article is stuffed, I use safety pins to attach the shirt and pants together. We make a ball with the straw and stuff the panty hose top to make the head. You can use markers, paper, or squiggly eyes for the eyes.

I buy extra bales of straw and sit them on my porch until the parents arrive to pick up their children. This has been a hit with my parents they love it. Most keep them from year to year.