Fair art picked

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

The concession stand, Ferris wheel, Strawberry Ride and the ticket booth are the things Kelly Chambers loves best about the Bland County Fair. Their colorful depictions won the 12-year-old top honor in the fair’s 2008 art contest.
“I was excited about it but I didn’t think I’d win because of all the kids that entered,” the rising seventh grader at Bland Elementary School stated Monday. “I’m happy I won.”
Laken Dillow, a rising sixth-grader at Bland Elementary School, won second place. Kristin Brandon, a seventh-grader at Rocky Gap Elementary School, placed third.
According to Sandra Bowling, who oversees the art contest, approximately 50 students in grades 4-7 in Bland County schools entered drawings this year.
“This is the most entries we’ve ever had,” noted Bowling, a teacher and member of the Bland County Fair Inc. Board of Directors. “We probably had more this year because the contest came after the SOLs and the teachers had more time for it.”
Both Kelly and Laken began their drawings in class and finished them at home.
“I drew mine and then I made it darker and colored it with Crayons and markers,” Kelly stated.
Laken is attending 4-H Camp this week and couldn’t be reached for comment. Her mom Sherri reported Laken completed her entry at home.
Contacted on vacation this week, Kristen said this was the first time she had entered the contest. She spent about an hour at home on her entry.
Bowling took all the entries to the May meeting of the fair directors’ meeting in May. She asked the members to select the top three drawings.
“There were a lot of good entries,” remarked Patty Strock, fair board member and art contest judge. “We appreciate the schools’ support of the fair which is celebrating its 82nd year.”
As top prize winner, Kelly will be honored as grand marshal for the fair parade on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 6 p.m. She also will receive a blue ribbon, cash prize and a family pass to the fair.
Commenting on her drawing, Kelly said, “I thought about the stuff I liked about the fair. I drew them.”
She is the daughter of Chuck and Becky Chambers of Bland.
Laken will receive a ribbon, cash and family pass to the fair as second place winner. She is the daughter of Randy and Sherri Dillow.
Kristin will receive a ribbon, cash prize and family pass to the fair. She is the daughter of Todd and Amy Blankenship.
The three winning entries are featured in the 2008 fair book. They also will be displayed during the fair with carnival which runs Aug. 6-9.
The horse show will be Sept. 5-6.
“The fair is a family tradition for us,” commented Sherri Dillow. “It’s a big family thing. We all get together and go every year. We have relatives that come in from all around.”
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .