Natalie Thames earned a best-overall rosette in the Senior division, while Caden Eison and Ansley Smith earned best-overall rosettes in Intermediate and Junior, respectively, in the Bradford 4-H Table Setting-Contest, which was held March 1 at the Bradford Agricultural Fairgrounds.
The annual event 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).
Thames, who won the rosette in the Intermediate division in each of the last three years, was this year’s only participant in the Senior division. Her theme was based on Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” Thames dressed as Belle as she presented her table to judges Ella Dinkins and Donna Solze. Thames’ menu consisted of an appetizer of brie mousse with fig preserves, a first course of French-onion soup with assorted bread, a blue cheese, pear and walnut salad with apple vinaigrette, a main dish of braised chicken with onions, mushrooms and garlic on buttered pasta, a dessert of chocolate souffle with strawberries and sweet cream, and a drink selection of sparkling water, tart lemonade and hot chocolate.
The Intermediate division consisted of two participants, with Eison and Ryder Detweiler both earning blue ribbons. Eison was presented with the rosette for his setting based on his mentoring/service club, 12 Guys in Bow-Ties and 12 Girls in Pearls. His table’s centerpiece was a display of garden tools, representing the club’s community service projects.
Eison’s menu consisted of Service Subs (choice of ham or turkey), Future Fruit Salad (strawberries, bananas, grapes and kiwi), Community Cookies (double chocolate chip) and Working Water Bottles.
Detweiler’s theme was “Lunch with the Boys,” which represented the video games he and his friends enjoy playing together.
Smith, who competed as a Cloverbud last year, was the lone participant in the Junior division. Her theme was based upon a tea party, with a menu that consisted of cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, fresh, fruit salad, peanut butter pear cookies, fresh-squeezed lemonade and mint tea.
Callie Smith was this year’s lone Cloverbud participant. 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.
All of the table-setting displays can be viewed during the Bradford Agricultural Fair in Building 3.
