Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1497185
Depression glass she collects along with an Easter theme. Each entry must include a centerpiece, a table cloth, a menu, and one complete table setting, she explained. Most entrants put their menu in a picture frame. There should also be a glass, and there must be a dish for each course, she said. So, if dessert is on the menu, a desert plate needs to be on the table. The appropriate flatware arranged correctly is also required. "If you don't have a salad plate, don't put a salad on your menu," she advised. Each entry needs a theme that is carried through, from the menu to the plates. Fall and harvest are popular themes, and so is football. A menu for a football-themed table might include tailgating favorites like barbeque. At least one entrant used a football cut in half and stuffed with flowers as a centerpiece. The table is 24 inches by 24 inches and only one place is set. Judges consider the size as well as the theme of the centerpiece, according to the official rules. The table cloth is also considered – it should be correspond with the theme. But the one thing that often trips up the younger participants is the knife, Stark said. The sharp side of the knife must face in towards the plate. For the young people, the table setting contest is a learning experience. They learn the right way to set a table, but they also learn that it can be fun. Some of them may start choosing a theme for their birthday parties, she said. The Table Setting Contest attracts more entries every year, and many fair-goers wandering through Exhibit Hall will stop to admire the themed tables. 2023 Benton County Fair 23