Jim and Arlene La Borde have their creative juices flowing as they prepare for this year’s Santa Cruz County Fair.
The retired Boulder Creek couple will have their artistic ability on display when the fair opens its doors Tuesday, Sept. 15, for the start of its six-day run.
Jim, last year’s winner in the “vegetable creature” category, will build a face out of a pumpkin using squash, mushrooms and the like. Arlene will enter for the first time with three photographs in the “amateur photographer” category.
“I think I was enlightened by God,” Arlene joked. “I took this picture of a fish platter in Venice and I saw one thing, but when it printed there was an aura around the fish.”
There was little sunlight that day, and Arlene could not figure out why the fish was glowing, until a friend advised her that the lens she used created an amber hue on images with indirect sunlight.
She matted the picture on metallic paper for display during the fair.
Felton’s Elaine Kennedy also will participate in multiple capacities. Besides being on the fair’s livestock committee, she creates miniature flower arrangements.
“My mom used to do them when I was a child,” she said.
Kennedy has created miniature arrangements in three categories this year: “Japan on My Mind,” “Side by Side” and “Barnyard Beach Party.”
She uses small, dyed flowers to create arrangements that are less than 6 inches tall. In fact, she can build arrangements in items as small as matchboxes and nut shells.
Kennedy, in her fourth year of competition, said she expects between 15 and 30 entries in the miniature flower arrangement category, and the winners take home ribbons and about $3 in cash.
“It’s more about the excitement of doing it and having it on display,” she said.
As part of the livestock committee, Kennedy’s job is to track the bids on each animal as she watches the various animals ramble through the livestock area guided by children from 4-H and other organizations.
“I enjoy that, seeing all the animals and kids at the end of the year,” she said.
At a glance
WHAT: Santa Cruz
County Fair
WHEN: Noon to 11 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, through Friday, Sept. 18; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 19; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sept. 20
WHERE: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 East Lake Ave., in Watsonville
TIX: Adults ages 13 through 61, $8 in advance, $10 at the door; children ages 5 through 12, $6 in advance, $4 at the door; younger than 5, free; seniors, $6 general admission and $4 on senior day, Tuesday, Sept. 15; parking, $5
ENTERTAINMENT: Starts at 7:30 p.m. daily: Tuesday, Guitarmy; Wednesday, KTOM presents Bucky Covington; Thursday, Roy Rodgers and the Delta Rhythm Kings; Friday, Blue Oyster Cult; Saturday, Ryze — The Band; Sunday, Pro Wrestling Revolution
INFO: www.santacruzcountyfair.com
