Girls' scarecrow wins best in field

The two first-time competitors are too young to enter animal contests.
By MATT BIXENSTINE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- When their pumpkin patches didn't pan out as planned, Claudia Criss and Beth Camp carved out a "best of show" alternative.
Claudia, 6, daughter of Missy and Fred Criss of Salem, and Beth, 8, daughter of Tom and Krystal Camp of Berlin Center, will leave the fair with trophies after being awarded overall best of show in the annual scarecrow competition, made up of a junior division, under 14, and senior division, 14 and older.
The girls, participants in 4-H's Cloverbud program for children under 9, are used to entering pumpkins from their gardens to be judged at the fair. This year, however, the rainy weather hindered their pumpkins' growth.
"The pumpkins didn't make it," said Missy Criss. "The girls just wanted to have something in the fair because they can't have animals yet."
Moving on
No problem for Claudia and Beth.
Their scarecrow was a doll composed of a balloon face covered in papier-m & acirc;ch & eacute;, Spanish moss for hair and a dress that came from a Halloween costume. By including a cardinal, carnation and ladybugs -- all symbols of Ohio -- in their design, Claudia and Beth also took first place in the Bicentennial theme aspect of the scarecrow competition
"It's amazing these kids' imaginations these days," said Anita Beeson, supervisor of the pumpkin barn, which also housed the scarecrows. "I think there's a little bit of everything represented here."
Missy Criss, also a Cloverbud adviser, assisted her daughter and Beth with the project, but she said the girls came up with the ideas and did most of the work.
Tom and Krystal Camp got to view the scarecrow as it was a work in progress.
"We saw it at home -- it was very exciting for them," Krystal Camp said. "They were tickled to win a prize and get to do something fun at the fair."
Claudia said she would not be able to display the scarecrow at home after the fair because her dog will chew on it. But would it actually scare crows if she could? "No, it's a pretty one," Claudia said.
A hall of fame board has been charting the scarecrow competition since 1993, but Beeson said the competition has been going on even longer. She said she was impressed by this year's creativity and variety. "It was a really good turnout, and we appreciate all their efforts," she said. "It's one of those things where you wish [all the competitors] could get first place."
Met through 4-H
The competition is just one of many ways the Criss and Camp families have been involved in the fair for years. The families met each other through their participation in 4-H.
Claudia "doesn't know not coming to the fair, let's put it that way," Missy Criss said.
Both Fred Criss and Tom Camp are 4-H advisers, and children from both families show livestock. Beth hopes to bring a calf to next year's fair.
"I think 4-H is something you can do as a family," Missy Criss said. "There are too many things that pull us apart. This is one thing that brings us together."
mbixenstine@vindy.com