IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE ... Culinary exhibits and competitions have been a part of the State Fair since it was founded as the Greenbrier Valley Fair in 1921. And this year is no exception.

Here are a few of the fair folks who captured blue ribbons.

A decorated cake went blue for Toby Garlitz of Union with the entry created in the shape of a plump brown chicken surrounded by her yellow chicks.

A plate of peanut butter candy caught the judges’ attention and earned a blue ribbon for Sarah Davis of Maxwelton.

Dreama Coleman of Alderson entered a black walnut iced cake which won first place while a farm scene, although it garnered no ribbons, was a crowd-pleaser.

Megan Persinger created the cake which featured a miniature barn, cows, chickens, ducks on a pond and a small mouse peeping out of a haystack. The entire scene was edible, too.

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL ... To see lots of people taking it easy under the shade of the old maple tree, but to see one of the fair folks reading a book in a setting that is filled with activity is rare.

But that’s just what Vickie Wolfe of Moatsville, a small community in Barbour County, was doing.

“It’s shady and cool,” explained Vickie when I asked her, tongue in cheek, for an explanation.

Vickie was waiting for her husband, John, who is a regional representative of the West Virginia Cattlemen’s Association. She also was munching on a steak sandwich which she purchased at the organization’s nearby stand.

The stand has been on the commercial midway at the exposition for as long as I can remember and generates funds for the state Cattlemen’s Association.

John and Vickie raise angus le on their farm in Barbour County, and are regulars at the State Fair.

FAIR FOLKS ... Crystal Davis of Beckley had a small fan in hand and was trying to generate some cool air when I saw her at the State Fair. She even attempted to give me some relief from the heat and did it feel good.

Crystal had her three children, Lindsey, Sophia and Chloe, at the fair. She told me that her husband, Allan, is attending the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg.

GOOD CAMPERS ... That’s the best way to describe a contingent from Cyclone, who have been “roughin’ it (not really) at the fair for more than 20 years.

When I had a chat with Janice Bailey, who was taking a breather in a lawn chair near the State Fair Museum, she told me that she is at the fair with her daughter, Rosetta Bailey, Lessie Lusk, Rev. Jackie Lusk and Arnel and Eleanor Lusk.

Crowd watching is one of their favorite pastimes when they come to the fair, Janice said.

A REAL GENTLEMAN ... Even though finding places to relax sometimes is hard at the fair due to the crowds, Keith Amick didn’t hesitate to give me his place on a bench when our paths crossed on the carnival midway.

Keith and his wife, Jane, live in Leivasy and had their grandchildren Brandon and Alyiah with them.

Jane said that her dad, Bill McClung of Nettie, will see that she gets a copy of this column; hope so ’cause they certainly were a friendly couple!

P.S. Reithoffer’s, which brings its state-of-the-art carnival to the State Fair, has added a number of new benches at Kiddie Land. Each of the benches has a colorful umbrella wide enough to give ample shade.

It really is nice to be able to sit down for a spell, drink a bottle of water in an area with tasteful landscaping, and watch the crowds go by!

IT’S A FACT ... Country music legend Kenny Rogers, who will be showcased on the grandstand stage on Saturday, made his first appearance at the State Fair in 1978.

He joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Roy Clark Show and the Conway Twitty Show in the grandstand that year.