2011 Cotton Pickin' Quilt & Food Show In Review

“It (speaking about the Quilt & Food Show) was even better than last year. There is something around every corner. I didn’t think it could get better”, was one comment overheard. Another, “See what can happen when two great groups work together for a common cause.”

Well it was way more than two great groups involved, but she was right...two were instrumental in pulling it off. Going for Greatness in Goree did the Quilt Show and Munday Chamber of Commerce did the Food Show. The Knox County Visioning Group, Knox City Chamber of Commerce, Knox County Historical Commission, Badlands Productions and Ranger Creek Ranch were among the rest.

It was mesmerizing to see over 100 quilts decorating the gym. Vendors were everywhere! The Home Ec Building was the spot for food vendors and cooking demonstrations. Gourmet Food Shows with “Yo Momma”, Cynthia Kinsey were well attended with standing room only. The first, “From Fridge to Fabulous in 30 Minutes”, was amazing. The other demonstration, “Puff Pastries—Breakfast, Dinner, Appetizers and Desserts”, wow’ed the crowd with extra pizzazz due to her warm, witty and fun personality. The east wing held four more rooms packed full with vendors.

If the next generation doesn’t take a hankerin’ to quilt, then it will be a sad day on the farm. The lost art isn’t lost, yet though. Thanks to groups like the Brazos Valley Quilt Guild. A “Log Cabin Challenge” was issued to their members. The Guild’s quilts made this year were required to incorporate the log cabin pattern and were judged by Donna Mizer. First place ribbon for the hand quilted category was awarded to Lula Baty and second went to Geraldine Koenig. First place in machine quilted went to Jan Carver and second to Mary Huffman. And finally, first in the wall hangings went to Carol Dickson and second went to Susan Spake. Experts, for certain.

Another endangered trade is canning. Lorrie Coop demonstrated “Canning & Food Preservation” techniques twice that day. And something that IS popular with the younger generation is scrapbooking. Ronda Thompson put her skills to work for everyone interested in scrapbooking with Creative Memories Products. Mrs. Penny Kizer demonstrated a new measuring tool that would make any sewing job a breeze. And Trainham Ice’s Caroline Garcia was on task sharpening scissors.

Quilt viewers were given the opportunity to vote on the quilt they liked most…the Viewer’s Choice Award went to Judy Hubbard who entered a Pinwheel Quilt given as a retirement gift from Munday First United Methodist Church which was pieced by Mary Huffman, hemmed by Penny Kizer and custom quilted by Amanda Bibb. Her prize was a beautiful rocking chair donated by Lake Creek Beverage Store of Goree, Texas. Joni Smith of Erick, Oklahoma won this year’s Raffle Quilt donated by Geraldine Koenig, pieced by Susan Spake & Friends, quilted by Jo Heard.

And finally, Agape Tours brought a group of forty-four clients on a Mystery Trip to experience the Knox County Adventure Tour. They met at the Bank Building in Goree for coffee and donuts, spent hours at the Quilt & Food Show and then were off to tour Knox County. They saw the Cathedral in a Cotton Field, were impressed with the fruits of Keep Munday Beautiful, gawked at tractor art and wall murals, ducked under the ‘almost-none-like-it’ bridge while headed to tour the jail and museum, flew by The Narrows (our little Continental Divide) and finally roosted at Ranger Creek Ranch for a marvelous dinner joined by Wyman and Sylinda Meinzer, our state photographer. An Agape Tour traveler is seen here with her door prize, an autographed copy of his latest, "Under One Fence: The Waggoner Ranch Legacy"

Great day in the morning! Job well done to ALL who made an event like this HAPPEN! It just gets better with age. Thanks, thanks, thanks…