Natalie Thames earned a best-overall rosette in the Intermediate division for the third straight year, while first-time participants Teagan Bradley and Cadence Meng earned rosettes in their respective age divisions in the 4-H Table Setting-Contest, which was held March 3 at the Bradford Agricultural Fairgrounds.
Dressed as “Alice in Wonderland,” Thames presented a setting based on the theme of “Mad Hatter’s Tea Party,” with his hat serving as one of the table’s adornments. Decorations also included a rabbit, playing cards, mushrooms and a plate with butterfly artwork.
Thames’ menu consisted of the following first-course items: Mad Hatter stuffed mushrooms, Queen of Hearts tomato tarts, Dina’s salmon croquettes, Radish Rose tea sandwiches and Dormouse’s favorite pimento-cheese tea sandwiches.
The second course consisted of White Rabbit carrot-cake scones with Devonshire clotted cream and blueberry poundcake with lemon curd, while the third course consisted of Painting the Roses Red red-velvet cupcakes with cream-cheese icing and golden afternoon syrup cake.
The menu also included cold (butterfly pea tea lemonade) and hot (London fog) tea.
Thames, who was the only participant in the intermediate division, received a blue ribbon as well as the rosette.
The senior division consisted of one participant, with Bradley earning a blue ribbon and the rosette with her “Red, White and Beautiful” setting, which made use of the colors red, white and blue. Her menu was made up of T-bone steak, mashed potatoes with brown gravy, green beans, garden salad, strawberry shortcake and butterfly pea flower tea.
Meng earned a blue ribbon and the rosette in the junior division with her Easter-themed setting, which included an Easter-egg centerpiece, rabbit figurines and pastel-colored napkin and tablecloth. Meng’s menu consisted of a Caesar salad, honey glazed ham, macaroni and cheese, green beans, banana pudding and sweet tea.
Mattilyn Kerce also competed in the junior division, earning a blue ribbon for her “Country Formal” theme.
The contest also included one Cloverbud participant in Ansley Smith, whose theme was “Picnic with Wildflowers.”
Cloverbuds are the youngest 4-H members. They receive green participation ribbons and gain experience that will benefit them when they are old enough to start competing in the junior division.
Judges for this year’s contest were Ella Dinkins, Debbie Sapp and Donna Solze.
The table-setting contest, which is held annually the Friday before the official start of the Bradford Agricultural Fair, teaches youth etiquette skills, menu planning and nutrition as well as helping them develop presentation skills (they discuss their setting and theme in front of judges, who ask them questions).
All of the table-setting displays can be viewed during the fair in Building 2 in the 4-H area.
