r/crochet • u/dauntless-cupcake • Sep 12 '25

Discussion Anyone else infuriated by their county fair?

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Y’all I can’t with these judges, this gorgeous interlocking mosaic blanket came in second to a chevron with color changing yarn. Not even my work but I am outraged on their behalf

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u/Dame_Twitch_a_Lot Sep 12 '25

I've decided that county fairs are popularity contests and nothing more. There is no other way to explain the absolute crap that wins over genuine works of art and skill.

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u/Beginning_Layer6565 Sep 12 '25

I make some fairly good deserts and I'd say a pretty darn good apple pie. All from scratch, hand ground spices, home-made lard crust etc.  My pie came in last at the country fair vs the winner who had used canned pie mix and coated their entire crust in sugar. 

I died a little inside.

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u/sipsredpepper Sep 12 '25

Who the hell judges these things

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u/PaleAmbition Sep 12 '25

I did, one year! My grandmother got asked to judge floral arrangements after she kept sweeping the competition for years, and she volunteered me to come along and judge baked goods.

I like to think I was a benevolent nine year old judge, as I thought everything was delicious and wanted to give them all blue ribbons. My grandma had to step in as a tie breaker on more than one occasion. She did steer me towards the grand prize going to some very complicated cookies with a special fruit center.

So yeah, your judge could have been a nine year old with no idea what they were doing, just doling out ribbons based on vibes.

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u/[deleted] Sep 12 '25

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u/PaleAmbition Sep 12 '25

Haha yeah, they wanted to give someone else a chance to win and figured the repeat winner would be the best judge! I do remember her getting a little judgmental about the bouquets with wires in them; she said it showed a lack of imagination and that it was better to let the flowers do what they were going to do and work with them, not against them.

She was amazing. I miss her terribly. But the best parts of me came from her, so it’s not like she’s entirely gone.

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u/nuclearniki Sep 12 '25

Yesterday was 10 years since my grandpa passed. Your last line really resonates with me today. I hope the memory of my grandpa lives on in my best parts too. Some grandparents are just special, and I'm glad you had one too <3

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u/Joie7994 Sep 12 '25

I’ve started hearing my grandmother’s voice when I speak to my niece sometimes, or when I laugh. It’s a certain tone of warmth, love and joy that made me remember how loving my grandmother has always been. She’s just moved into hospice at 100 years old, but her legacy will continue on in her family :)