MUSINGS: Park County Fair a welcome distraction

Posted 7/24/14

Samantha, who is a close friend of Kooper Stringer, was grieving at the loss of her bestie’s father and the awful affect it is having on the Stringer family. Along with Kooper’s twin sister, Kodi, the girls will be in ninth grade at Powell High …

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MUSINGS: Park County Fair a welcome distraction

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It is a sad time for Powell.

We’ve experienced a huge loss in our community through the untimely death of coach Jim Stringer, which became even more apparent Tuesday morning as I observed the heartfelt tears of  Samantha Becker.

Samantha, who is a close friend of Kooper Stringer, was grieving at the loss of her bestie’s father and the awful affect it is having on the Stringer family. Along with Kooper’s twin sister, Kodi, the girls will be in ninth grade at Powell High School this fall.

But Samantha and her mother, Dona Becker, were volunteering at the annual judging of the Kitchen Arts Open Show Culinary Division at the Park County Fair. Others who helped with the judging of this year’s culinary fare were longtime volunteers Georgia and Jeanette Cox, Diane Martin, Bailey Voss and myself. Bailey and Samantha were the runners who brought the products to the work tables and returned the judged items to their proper place in the show cabinets.

In the absence of Donabeth Baker, a 40-year superintendent of the Culinary Division, Deb Kelly took on the oversight of this year’s event. Unfortunately, Donabeth is also facing a difficult time as she undergoes her first round of chemotherapy in her fight against cancer of the uterus.

Joy Spomer continued in her job as recorder — the one who keeps track of each entry and the prize awarded to the individual. Joy has also known sadness this year with the accidental death of her great-great-niece Kaylee Spomer.

“Although we know it was an accident, it is still hard to bear,” she said.

This year’s judges were Amanda Baker Matdies of Kalispell, Mont., and Judy Jessup of Cody. Amanda is about to begin her fourth year as home economics teacher at Flathead High School in Kalispell. There she has about 150 students per semester and is glad that she finally has the chance to fulfill her dream of a teaching career.

Amanda graduated from PHS and went on to Northwest College for an associate degree in consumer science. And she pursued her higher education while homeschooling her three children for 11 years. She is a caring judge who takes the time to give helpful hints to the exhibitors.

As the time came to judge the entries of those 65 and older, Amanda picked up the first entry. She looked at the crust of the pecan pie and then cut a slim slice for the taste test. Then she sat the pie down and looked up.

“I hate to have to tell an 85-year-old how to bake!” she said.

Today (Thursday), the fair will still be going on as across the fence and down the road a piece a memorial service for coach Stringer is being held. Afterward there will be likely be tears of sadness and regret, but let Park County Fair be a welcome distraction.

Come on out to the fair!

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