Agriculture

4-H displays at state fair

will have lots of competition

At the Kentucky State Fair 4-H members from across the state showcase their talents in speeches, demonstrations and judging competitions in the West Hall of the Kentucky Exposition Center. Visitors can view more than 5,000 projects on display that encompass a variety of skills and hobbies including textiles, horticulture and arts and crafts.

The Shelbyville Fairgrounds was bursting at its seams with people on Saturday night, closing night of the 22nd annual Shelbyville Horse Show.

Horse Show Manager R.H. Bennett said before the first day of the show even began that he was worried about the attendance rate this year because of the weather and economy.

But apparently neither the muggy temperatures nor the down-and-out financial picture stopped people from attending the social event of the year in the Saddlebred Capital of the World.

I continue to stand by my belief that I am my best defense in the garden.

In the morning I go out and inspect my garden and smash insects and pick off diseased foliage, careful not to spread it to other plants by my own hand. I watch for the beginning of any abnormality and nip it in the bud.

However, sometimes things slide by undetected, plus it is hard to determine bacterial brown spot from mosaic if you are not sure what you are looking for.

The strawberry was first cultivated in the 14th Century after a French spy collected a berry from Chile and presented it to France’s King Charles V, who than planted in the Louvre’s Royal Garden.

By the 17th century this Chilean strawberry was crossed with some found in the Virginia colonies, which gave way to the large-fruiting varieties we enjoy today.

But don’t be fooled large does not always mean flavorful!