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  • Deborah Faulk prepares an informal tablesetting for Garfield County Fair judging Wednesday. The entry theme Shana To VA! (Happy New Year!) includes a Rosh Hashana menu of baked fish, orzo pilaf, stewed leeks, honey glazed carrot coins and honey cake with sweet spices. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

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September 8, 2010

Garfield County Fair has many different contests

By Joe Malan, Staff Writer Enid News and Eagle

ENID — When you go to a county fair, you might think of pumpkin contests, watermelon contests and flower display contests, just to name a few.

But tablesetting contests? Really?

At Garfield County Fair, it’s a reality.

One of the tables designed inside Chisholm Trail Coliseum for the fair is covered with a blue and white tablecloth and is adorned with blue and white cups, bowls and plates.

The creation came from the mind of Deborah Faulk, who designed the table in a Jewish theme in commemoration of Rosh Hashanah, which began at sundown Wednesday .

“I’ve entered this event two other years,” said Faulk, a resident of Enid who has won a tablesetting contest once in the past. “It’s been several years since I did.”

Rosh Hashanah, which means, “head of the year,” is exactly what it sounds like — the beginning of the year of the Jewish calendar.

Two items commonly on a dinner table at a Rosh Hashanah celebration are honey and apples. The two usually are eaten together and symbolize a wish for a sweet new year.

The items are placed in the middle of Faulk’s table to give it a truly authentic look.

One thing that must be present on each and every table in the tablesetting contest is a menu.

The menu, printed on a white card at Faulk’s table, reads: baked fish steaks, orzo pilaf, stewed leeks, honey glazed carrot coins, honey cake with sweet spices and coffee and tea.

“There are 14 participants in the contest this year,” Faulk said. “Some are youth, some are adult, some may be in a group.”

The contest is scheduled to be judged today.

Each table set up in the contest appeared to have different themes.

One table was dressed in a Halloween theme, while a nearby table was decorated in a fall theme with a row of candles down the middle.

Yet another table had a green and yellow John Deere tractor theme, while another was dressed in red flower petals in a sort of romantic expression.

Faulk is hoping her table stands out from all the others.

“I think I’ve got a good shot (at winning),” she said.

Garfield County Fair runs today through Sunday. Commercial booths in the Coliseum are open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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