Although the Wright Co. Fair wrapped up last Sunday, area residents are still talking about the fun they had and the events they participated in. A number of them will be headed to the state fair at the end of August.

Clearwater resident Debbie Coan received a red ribbon on her muffins, a blue ribbon on her sugar cookies, and a blue on her apple pie, which she made from apples given to her from Ron Gohman.

“I make a lot of pies to give away,” said Coan. “When I use apples from Ron people always say they’re the best.”

Coan’s apple pie was so good the judge didn’t want to stop tasting it, and it was crowned grand champion in the entire home arts and crafts division.

As a teenager Coan participated in a number of 4-H events, but this was her first time entering anything since then. Her mom, Regina Coan, persuaded her to try it out.

“She taught herself to bake so well,” said Regina. “But I did teach her to use just a little bit of baking soda in her apple pies to cut down on the bitterness, so you don’t have to use so much sugar.”

Regina Coan herself also came home with a number of ribbons, including nine blues, six reds and two whites. She entered a number of applique and embroidery categories along with rhubarb, dill, apples, grapes, chives and yellow daylilies. 

Members of Northern Peak 4-H club also had very successful runs at this year’s fair.

Macie Groth was awarded reserve grand champion for her photograph of a ram taken at her family’s trip to Yellowstone this summer. She will be headed to the state fair with the photo; it’s the first year she’s been eligible to attend.

“It was surprising since it was my first year,” said Groth. “I’m excited to attend [the state fair].”

She also received blue ribbons in the other categories she entered, fine arts and food and nutrition.

Groth’s brother, Eli, also received all blues this year. He entered food and nutrition, citizenship, crafts and fine arts.

It was Owen, Abby and Hadley McFadden’s first year participating in 4-H at the fair, and they each won a blue ribbon in every category they entered. Owen also received an honorable mention for showmanship with his rabbit.

“They were pretty excited,” said mom Annie McFadden.

Another first-timer, Charlie Studenski, received a blue ribbon for his aerospace project.

Kiley O’Koneck came home with two blue ribbons in photography and a red in foods and nutrition. Her brother, Elijah, came home with four red ribbons for his projects in woodworking, metal works, tractor and aerospace.

Clover Bud Maxwell O’Koneck received participation ribbons for his painted flower pot and chocolate zucchini cookies.

The Wagner siblings, Isaac, Josie and Cameron, have competed at the fair for a number of years, and they continued their tradition of excellence this year. All three will be headed to the state fair with their birds, with Isaac receiving champion in brown egg layers, reserve champion in breeding pen and reserve champion overall with brown egg layers.

Josie Wagner received champion in white egg layers, and Cameron Wagner was named reserve champion in brown egg layers.

Isaac Wagner also received a blue for dill pickles in the food preservation category that he will be taking it to the state fair, and Josie received blues in aerospace and foods and nutrition, where she entered a cheesecake that she will also be taking to the state fair.

Along with all their competitions, Northern Peak members also spent Saturday morning working the 4-H food stand.