Table Setting Competition : A Fair Exhibit Tribute
69Many fairs across the USA have a table setting competition which may be tied to the theme of the fair, holidays, celebrations or other events.
Contestants may be required to provide a suitable menu, a centerpiece, and place settings for one to four people.
The requirements are varied, but the competition is always fiercely friendly.
A Doggerel Ode to County Fair Table-Setting Contests
Everything's perfect and looking just great.
Don't shock your dear guests with a mere paper plate.
We're setting the table with infinite care,
To win a blue ribbon at our county fair.
Observing a season, or Christmas, or more,
a birthday, a love feast, for one you adore,
The colors do coordinate, the flowers match the platters.
Decorations scream the theme to show what really matters.
Placing each piece to make an impression,
That pleases the judges or feeds an obsession
with pressed table linens and candles alight,
it all comes together-- all perfectly right.
You've mastered the art of laying a fork
beside proper plates, for fish or for pork.
With special utensils for each special task
which one we're to use, we never will ask.
Lost in the rush of modern days,
Our day-to-day tables in so many ways,
Resemble these samples , down to the letter.
Do not tell the judges our home ones are better.
They might come around and discover our fake out,
and greasy old cartons from Pop's Pizza takeout.
Careful position of each cup and tumbler,
is vexing indeed for the everyday bumbler.
Glimmering crystal or faceted glasses
reflect the ideals of the elegant classes,
who dined with all their matching dishes
on truffles and roast and various fishes.
It brings up thoughts within our minds
of sumptuous meals, of various kinds
when royalty, dressed in rare jewels and sables,
had elegant servants to set their grand tables.
They came down to dine with crowns on their heads
while the elegant servants turned down their beds.
* * * * *
--Photos by R. Frank, Mariposa County Fair, 2010
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What a painful experience for your sis-- nothing was 'fair' about that. I always thought it would be fun to try, but I would have to find something interesting at a yard sale or second hand store for the setting.
Getting rid of stuff is a good thing, a lot of people are starting to downsize to essentials.
Rochelle-this took me back to my boarding school's annual table setting competitions. Castilleja School is in Palo Alto-founded by David Starr Jordan to groom young ladies for their inevitable tenure at Stanford-and this event was most serious in the early 70's. I was a boarder and could never quite understand the hoopla.
I did like the swamp entry at your fair, however!
My daughter has done this competition at our fair a couple of years ago. She had planned on doing it again this year, but there were too many other things to do and she didn't get it done. She does plan on using the materials for next year!
One of the things our fair looks for when doing these, are that the table cloths and napkins are sewn by the child not purchased.
lorlie6-- Really? David Starr Jordan founded schools? I thought he was a biologist or a botanist or something, I only know the name because I went to DSJ high school in Long Beach-- though named for him, I don't think he founded this one.
The swamp table did not seem to have any silverware-- maybe the menu was finger foods.
specialk3749-- Not a lot of people enter this category. I suppose one reason is that it requires a lot of attention to the last minute details in pulling it all together.
If you enter a painting, for instance, it's just a matter hanging it on the wall.
Rochelle, I just loved this hub! Bookmarked to re-read. I have never seen a table setting competition at any of our UK Shows or Fairs I have been to but I have done a fair bit of it setting up photo shoots for the linen firm I used to work for so I have a special interest in the napkin folds on display!
They are quite varied, and I don't know details of the judging criteria. I personally liked the one with the red goblet and the dainty rosebud clasped in the napkin ring.
The winning one had too many rabbits on the table for my taste, although the pink and yellow went together surprisingly well. Thanks for commenting, Alison.
I loved you hub and enjoyed reading it.
Hello -- Hello,hello. Thanks. I'm glad you read and enjoyed.
Rochelle, this is awesome. The place settings are so fun!
Thanks, Jane at CM. I have always found them strangely fascinating. I do like to set a pretty table, but mine are usually relatively simple. The food is usually the best part of the decoration.
Great hub. I have never heard of this
Thanks, Granny's House. You don't have fairs in your state? These are usually displayed near the food entries.
This was so cool!!! The table settings all looked so great, so festive! Thanks for a great hub, Rochelle.
Thanks, Paradise7. There weren't a lot of entries in the past few years. A lot of people think about it, I'm sure, but it takes a lot of thought to pull it together -- even for one setting.
The green table linen with yellow setting was my entry. I've entered before; it's always fun. And I did have a menu but it was not here when the "doors opened." They moved my exhibit from where I set it up, so guess it got lost in the process. Anyone have this dish pattern? It belongs to my mom, a wedding gift in 1956.
Thanks for commenting, Lee Ann. I wish I had written the names down. That was a lovely setting. The green cloth really showed it off well.
As an agriculture area, we certainly have county fairs with food, canning,livestock, etc. I have nver heard of a table setting contest. looks like fun! The blue glass is my favorite.
Maybe you need to suggest it to your local fair board-- show them some photos (and start working on your ideas). It fits in well with "home arts" Our fair also has a similar category for kids where less elegant components including paper plates can be used.
Rochelle...I am not allowed to attend these competitions as I am prone to breakage. Interesting stuff...all those forks! That's the kind of stuff that really brings out the stupid in us guys as we never had training when we were young! Thanks for sharing in verse no less! WB
The 'extra' silverware looks nice, but also means more to clean up. One fork per person is fine most of the time. I think the extras were originally put out there just to show that you had a lot of it.
Thanks for looking in Wayne brown.
How interesting. I don't have a "Martha Stewart" bone in my body!!
Thanks, loriamoore. "It's a good thing." Didn't she say that all the time?
I have never seen a table setting contest so thanks for the introduction. Looks like it would be fun to view. Thanks for your pictures and I thought that your poetry telling about it was really great to read along-side the photos. You put a lot of effort into this hub and it shows.
Thank you Peggy W. Actually this was a quickie and it didn't feel like a lot of effort. It might have been if I had tracked down some of the contestants and gotten comments, or really gotten into some of the judging criteria etc. I have two or three other unpublished hubs that I have put more effort into-- and they are not finished yet.
I like your pretty plates in the quinoa hub-- you would probably be good at this kind of contest.
I want the blue glass! Beautiful!
It was very pretty-- I had a hard time getting the photo angle I wanted on that because of distracting backgrounds (and I was being rushed by someone who wasn't interested). Thanks for commenting, GmaGoldie.
I love this Hub. I read it shortly after you published it, but got distracted with something or other....Yet, the images remained in my mind and gave me a continuing warm chuckle. Like Peggy, I've never seen such a contest, so your super photos planted a seed, and ever since then, I've been a lot more conscious about what my table looks like and have been rooting around a bit for pieces stored away and forgotten. Another medium of expression! I'm looking forward to Halloween dinner. The table setting is going to include spiders.
Thanks, Sallys Trove-- Glad you found it fun.
Such beautiful table settings. And such a fun competition. I love doing fun settings myself.
They do this every year at our fair-- I always enjoy seeing them. It's a good way to get new ideas. Thanks for commenting, KatMalone.
Hi,
Rochelle Frank
Beautiful, Great hub......!!!
Glad you liked it, dinesh c bhatt.
Hi, this is great! I had never heard of it before, maybe they should start doing this over here, what a good idea, thanks nell
I'm surprised that a lot of people have not seen this before. Maybe some of you can promote the start of a similar contest at your own local fair.
Thanks for commenting, Nell Rose!
I would so lose at this I learned the proper way even the fancy dinner setting with multiple forks etc. But I keep it casual I just put out what I need to eat on a napkin :)
I'm mostly casual in my 'settings' too. This particular contest isn't necessarily for the proper and fancy-- I've even seen hobo or down-on-the-ranch settings. Innovation seems to be valued above all else-- it has to look "inviting",but each contest may have different rules and standards. Thanks for your comment.
Ooooo I love that setting with the blue glass. Beautiful! I think table settings are so elegant and really add to the emotional part of the meal. Enjoyed the hub!
Yes, very pretty. All of them had something special. Thanks for your kind comment, Lyria.
this is really a good. love reading this hub.
Glad you enjoyed it.
You are very creative. Always happy to see gifted people put their talents to work for them.
It seems that the county Fair inspires a lot of creativity. Thanks for commenting, bettybarnesb.
Hi Rochelle,
What a charming ode to the diminishing art of table setting. Everything these days is just plonked down it seems. That's if anybody bothers to sit at the table...
You bring up a very good pint, Jane. Perhaps part of the solution is to make the table a little more special, again.
Sure, it's more work, but it might be worth it if it creates a new enjoyable experience for family togetherness. Busy families might not have time to do it every night, but adding a special touch-- delegating one family member to create a nice setting, or even doing it a couple times a week might have unseen benefits.
Rochelle I agree...at the risk of sounding high-fallutin' there is something enriching about sitting down at the table, especially one that's had a bit of love and attention put into it. It's not THAT time-consumimg really and of course it doesn't have to be formal. You've inspired this reader, anyway.
Cheers
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy ,healthy, and prosperous New Year. Great ode with a table set with humour and delight. Cheers.
I appreciate your appreciation, sligobay. This is the season to go 'all out' in settings. That can be fun, but unless I'm expecting a moderate tableful of guests-- 6 to 10 -- I try for a casual serving most of the time.
I love a beautiful table. I'll have to check, I'm not sure my state as table setting, but if it does, I will certainly check it out next August. Thank you for this *awesome* Hub! Ann
Thanks, Ann. Every time I see these, I think about doing it-- but it does take some preparation in getting all the pieces together.
Remarkable ideas!!! How cool!! Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it, lanealanea .
Loved the "blue glass" table setting. Ah, it does bring us back to a more leisurely and gracious era. Thank you!
Yes, it was very pretty. I'm wondering how it would look with food on it. The menu might have to be planned with color in mind.
I'm not a huge fan of foofy table settings, but I loved your perfect meter. Great job!
Thanks,Stan. I may have missed my calling. I could have been a meter maid.
LOL!
I've heard about this but never actually saw one. It might be fun to participate in this type of competition, but unfortunately table setting is not my expertise. Nice hub, Rochelle. Oh and the pics are also lovely. :)
Thanks, Om Paramapoonya, and I do like your smoothie brreakfast -- no table-setting!
It would be fun to participate in such a competition! Who knew?! Neat hub!
I'm always inspired when I see these. Then I realize that there are a lot of details to bring together. Maybe, someday.
Though I've never seen any of these tables at our local state fair, I've seen some at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Florists go whole hog in creating artistic displays on tables and, believe me, they are something to see. One featured a mini garden on a table for 2. You sat at each side of the table, sort of looking down a small 'garden path.' Not really practical or even doable, but very cool.
That idea must have come to someone in a dream. It sounds like you wouldn't even have to have food with that kind of a setting. Thanks for commenting, Dolores.
Everyone else commented on the settings and I was looking at the dishes. Most of those were antique, by the way. The blue that everyone was commenting was Depression Glass, Swirl pattern, They also had other colors. The pink was pretty, I have some reproduction, which are also collectable.
You are probably right, Becky. I think a lot of people who do this shop the yard sales and consignment shops just to find attractive pieces they can use for this. It takes an artistic eye.
Thank you for making the effort to line this all out for us. This kind of post ended up being very useful if you ask me.
Thanks for your interest, Table setting.
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Thanks for the comment, web design. It makes the food taste better, too.
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Thank you, fat freeze. Though your praise is excessive, and perhaps facetious, I am glad if it helped you in some way.
mega1 Level 3 Commenter 20 months ago
I remember these from the county and state fair competitions in Kansas when I was growing up. My sister won the purple ribbon for her wheat themed place setting and also discovered that she was allergic to the goldenrod bouquet she picked for the center. She had to go to E.R. because her face swelled like a balloon and she couldn't show her dairy cow because she was so sick! So now place setting competitions bring a picture of her in agony into my head! But also I've never had a set of Christmas dishes because I couldn't justify having a whole set just for the Christmas holidays, but I've always envied the people I know who do. Nowadays, since I am reducing possesions I don't even own any china or silverware and I even got rid of my Christmas decorations! blasphemy, huh!