Allen County 4-H’ers learned Monday how they can take better photographs, improve their performances in the kitchen and maybe save a little money by spending more time behind a sewing machine.
Judges in several categories sat down with 4-H’ers to discuss in detail what was good about their entries, and also what improvements they could make.
An example was Tera Reed, art instructor at Allen Community College, in her photo-judging responsibilities.
In talking with Katie Malone, 12, of Humboldt, Reed gave tips about lighting and how to compose subjects so they stand out.
Katie’s mother, Kathy Ellis, asked what would be a step-up camera for her daughter.
Reed suggested a brand and also said to look for one that had a wide range of apertures so as Katie learned she would have a more comprehensive approach to photography.
While Reed tutored, Marla Wilson had several dozens of submitted photos spread before her on the floor, deciding which ones would go where when they were mounted on display carousels.
Bob Wulf spent much of Monday putting together displays of open class farm and garden produce as it was brought to the Recreation Community Building.
Produce obviously has been affected by the prolonged drought and heat.
Just one handful of soybeans vines was on display and the vines held hardly any pods.
A few flats of ears of corn are on display. Most ears are half as long as field corn usually is by late July.
“There is some pretty good garden stuff,” Wulf said, motioning to a table with bright red tomatoes and other locally grown vegetables.
Frequent watering does wonders, even during times of oppressive heat.
The weather, with forecasts of triple-digit days all week-long, will be a popular topic for fair visitors, with some of the older ones bound to recall sizzling days of the mid-1950s.
“Remember 1954,” Wulf asked a friend.
That year daytime highs spiked at 117 degrees in mid-July and 51 times the mercury climbed to or about 100.
