Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The annual Routt County Fair is based on participation by, from and for locals. The 96th edition of the fair, scheduled for August, is no different and provides a great variety of opportunities for participation in old and new events and contests. This year highlights a contest that gives back to the community, You Be the Judge.

You Be the Judge is a recent addition to the Routt County Fair and is in its second year. It’s a contest in which Routt County residents can create a special item (determined before the fair each year) that will be judged with a vote by all fairgoers as they pass through the Exhibition Hall full. After the fair, these special items are donated to a specific charity or organization.

The 2009 You Be the Judge contest entries were pink scarves that benefited the Yampa Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Project. The entries were beautiful and plentiful, especially for the first year.

The 2010 You Be the Judge contest item is pillowcases. Yes, pillowcases. After display and judging at the Routt County Fair, these pillowcases will be donated to the Rollingstone Respite House and The Haven Assisted Living Center. If enough entries are received, they will be sent to other nursing homes and assisted living centers for the purpose of enhancing the residents’ bedrooms and bringing a little happiness and hospitality to our community members.

There are two ways for Routt County residents to enter the 2010 You Be the Judge contest. The first is that you can make a bed pillowcase of cotton or flannel. It should be colorful, theme-oriented, pre-washed and easily washable. The pillowcase should be something that a man or woman would enjoy on their bed.

The second way to enter is to decorate a purchased pillowcase. Participants can appliqué, cross stitch, fabric paint, crochet or knit edge, remove the border and add another or any other creative decoration to make a nice pillowcase. Again, the completed pillowcase must be easy to wash.

You Be the Judge contest entries should be delivered to the Routt County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall between 1 and 8 p.m. Aug. 18. Exhibits become property of the Routt County Fair and will be donated to the previously mentioned groups. The contest is limited to one pillowcase per exhibitor; however, donations of other embellished pillowcases will be accepted and donated.

It is this type of participation by the Routt County community that makes the fair so special. Participation from residents comes in all forms during the Routt County Fair — through volunteering, entering events, contests, exhibits, shows and sometimes just attending the different events. The 2010 Routt County Fair is Aug. 19 to 22.

Jill Delay is the Routt County Fair coordinator and fairgrounds manager. She can be reached at JDelay@co.routt.co.us or at 970-276-3068.