Exhibitors show off ribbons at Salem Fair
SALEM – The opening night of the Salem Fair on June 30 was bursting with excitement to reveal winners of the Blue Ribbon Exhibits. Exhibit owners and fairgoers roamed the exhibit rooms inside the Salem Civic Center with curiosity of the entries and the possibilities they had won a ribbon.
Ribbons were awarded to 1st in class in the division were given the Champion Ribbon. Reserved Champion was 2nd best of all 1st place of that division. Rarely given and most prestigious ribbon is the Director’s Choice ribbon presented by Salem Civic Center Director Carey Harveycutter to entries that catch his eye.
Charlene Wolfe of Vinton shows off her quilted wall hanging that won Embroidery Best in Show at the Salem Fair. Photo by Amanda Horn
Blue Ribbon entries featured creations by amateurs in such categories as home-canned vegetables and jams, freshly baked pastries, drawings and photography, sewing and quilting.
This year a new category was introduced: Occupational Therapy, for participants who are in some type of occupational therapy group. Those participants can also enter other competitions.
Embroidery Best in Show winner Charlene Wolfe from Vinton has been entering her creations in various categories in the Salem Fair since 2000. One year she entered a handmade porcelain doll. Wolfe has been embroidering for herself for 15 years.
A family owned business, Alpine Sewing Machine Co. in Roanoke, helped Wolfe purchase her equipment and supplies for her love of sewing. Wolfe pointed out the business offers various specialty classes in appliqué, embroidery, fabric embellishment and quilting.
“I love any type of sewing. It’s a lot of fun. I could sew 24/7,” she explained.
Volunteering and participating in the fair for 11 years, Wolfe views the Salem Fair’s Blue Ribbon Exhibits as a family affair for the community, she said. On registration days, Wolfe has noticed most families usually have multiple entries across various age groups.
“It’s families working together,” she said.
– Amanda Horn
