Across Ohio, county fair days are here. Excitement rings in the 4-H clubs, FFA students gear up for weeklong activities. Pretty young ladies vie for a queen’s crown. There are pig chases, calf scrambles. Golden wedding anniversary day is full of down-memory lane moments.

All mingle with an aroma of hot, buttered popcorn, cotton candy, crispy fair waffles and the freshest lemonade anywhere. Coveted prizes for best pies, cakes, cookies, canned goods and more attract all age groups into the friendly competitions within the buildings.

I was raised on the county fair. It was our vacation and special time to work with mom on projects that we could enter. Choosing two or three categories, we set to work weeks before the entry day. No surprise, my favorite area was baked goods. My sister was good at vo-ag and hobbies. My brother was good at hobby car models and flowers.

We learned how to plan, execute and present our work. We realized work could be fun. We learned about pride and humility. Oh yes, and those ribbons. Today, over 160 ribbons later, I still look forward to the work. A ribbon means that the work was noticed and judged to be worthy. That can do a lot for feeling okay with oneself, especially as a kid. And that can go a long way with coping with life.

This year the Miami County Fair is August 12 thru the 18. Their theme for the fairgrounds is “Where Memories are Made”.

For Clark County, July 22 thru 29 will be fair week. It is noteworthy to point out Clark County’s Fair book which you can view online or pick up a copy at local banks and at the fair office. This year’s cover theme and design is by Corina Colvin from the Stirrup Some Fun 4-H Club. It is a beautiful rendition of youth and animals, fair and a fair time experience. Her theme is “Sew it, grow it, show it.”

While most fairgoers are quite familiar with the midway activities and livestock barns and contests, there’s lots going on each day in the Arts & Crafts building. Special baked goods and food contests have been scheduled for afternoons and evenings. Of course, the second oldest is the Best Cookie in the County held Saturday, July 23. We’ll see how 25 kinds of cookies work out with the judges. Then there’s the Chicken Wing Cook-Off held in the evening of the 23rd. Big prizes will be passed out for the most flavorful, well-balanced and tender wings.

The oldest baking contest is the Pie Day Contest sponsored by the Clark County Pork Council Women. Cash prizes are awarded for the best pies made with lard crusts. Pies are then auctioned off in the evening for a lot of family fun and a nice amount of money to be used for improvements in the Arts & Crafts Building. It’s a win-win-win deal.

Even after twenty years of participating and working at the Clark County Fair, I still get excited. And this year I’ll have an added bonus of working with my niece as she learns the ropes of the Baked Goods Department. It will no doubt be a fun-filled, laughter-filled week. Oh yes, and those ribbons!!

Here is an old-fashioned molasses cookie that was entered years ago in the open class baked goods and won first place over 17 entries. Original recipe came from Betty Crocker’s Ultimate Cookie Book.


Joe Froggers

  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup margarine, room temperature
  • 1 cup dark molasses
  • ½ cup water
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Dash of nutmeg
  • Sugar

In large mixing bowl, cream sugar and margarine. Add molasses and water, beating well.

Sift together all dry ingredients except final sugar. Add to creamed mixture. Blend well.

Cover dough and chill two to three hours. Roll dough on well-floured surface. Cut cookies with 3-inch round cutter. Before placing on cookie sheet, brush off excess flour. Place 1-inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 9 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies should be firm but chewy.

Makes 2 to 3 dozen. Scrapes of dough can be rerolled to keep cutting until all dough is used.


Contact Connie at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Box 61, Medway, Ohio 45341

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