Tarrant Wins President's Pick as Judging Begins at Effingham County Fair

BY KURT BECKER

(KIMBERLY TARRANT AND EFFINGHAM COUNTY FAIR BOARD PRESIDENT PHIL HARTKE...photo courtesy of Kurt Becker)

Kimberly Tarrant of Altamont scored an early victory as judging got underway Saturday morning at the 78th annual Effingham County Fair, winning the inaugural President's Pick award in Class M1--Antiques.

Tarrant exhibited a 1939 Teutopolis Centennial Souvenir Program, which Effingham County Fair President Phil Hartke chose as his personal favorite from 342 entries. Tarrant also received one of the inaugural Superintendent's Choice trophies, as co-superintendent Scott Beal selected her 1886 Belmont Glass Co. Vaseline Compote for the honor. Steve Miller of Altamont won the other Superintendent's Choice award, designated by co-superintendent Kurt Becker for Miller's real photo postcard from the 1920s of Smith Aviation Field in St. Elmo.

In other Class M1 results, Robert Bell of Effingham captured Best of Show in the antique glassware division with a pressed-glass compote made by the Imperial Glass Co., while John Spannagel of Hidalgo won Best of Show for non-glassware with a wooden bench-plane made in the mid-1860s by Ohio Tool Co. Reserve Champion in the two, respective categories were Kurt Becker of Altamont for his Vaseline glass covered butter dish and Lynn Kull of Altamont for his autographed photo of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Bell took the final trophy in antiques, winning the inaugural Queen's Choice award for his $100 Confederate bill. Reigning Effingham County Fair Queen Kaylee Phillips and Junior Miss Kinley Will chose Bell's entry after reviewing each item in all 58 categories.