The opening ceremony for the 2012 Grayson County Fair was held Thursday afternoon, with the Grayson County 4-H Honor Guard presenting the colors as county officials and fair board members looked on.
Encouraged by perfect fall weather is forecast for Thursday and Friday, the first wave of visitors entered the fairgrounds at 4:00 p.m. Thursday to sample food, see the exhibits and visit the Lifestyles Building where ribbons were already adorning the judges' favorite selections.
Mary Annette Hayes, a Sherman resident, was the big winner in the Quilt Show with an entry that was named Best of Show and also earned the Judges' Choice Award.
The men were well represented in the Quilt Show by Lyle Willets, of Sherman, winner of two first place ribbons and one second place ribbons at this year's Grayson County Fair.
Mr. Willets is certainly prolific, with 60 quilts to his credit in the past 4 1/2 years, and those were made in between rounds of golf; however, he readily admits that it takes time to master this craft.
"I broke a lot of needles when I started," Willets says with a grin.
While he is fond of both his first place entries, one has a special place in his heart because it features his great-granddaughter's baby clothes.
At 80, Willets feels he is far from peaking at quilt making.
"I learn something every day I talk to other quilters," he says.
Grayson County Fair Schedule (below photos)
Friday, October 12
4:00 p.m. * Fair Opens
*4:00 - 9 p.m. - Free Toddler Play area **Mayor Arena (age 8 & under)
*4:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Noah's Exotic Animals - **South Cattle Barn
*5:00 p.m. * Gator 911 * N. Mayor Arena
*5:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Band - The Double Zero Band - Main Stage
*6:00 p.m. * Tropical Illusions * N. Mayor arena
*6:00 p.m. - BBQ Cookoff - West side of cattle barn
*7:00 p.m. * Gator 911 * N. Mayor Arena
*7:00 p.m. - Lone Star Garden Tractor Pull **Outdoor Arena
*8:00 p.m. * Tropical Illusions * N. Mayor Arena
*8:00 - 10:00 p.m. - Band - Big Gus & Swampadelic**Main Stage
*9:00 p.m. * Creative Arts Building & Vendor Row closes
*12:00 a.m. * Midway & Fair closes
Saturday, October 13*
8:00 a.m. * 10:00 a.m. * Heifer & Steer Check in
9:00 a.m. * Fair Opens
*9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Free Toddler Play area**Mayor Arena (age 8 & under)
9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Noah's Exotic Animals - **South Cattle Barn
9:00 a.m. - Tropical Illusions - "N. Mayor arena"
*9:00 a.m. - BBQ Cookoff - West of Cattle Barn
*10:00 a.m. * Heifer & Steer paperwork due and Steer weights
*10:00 a.m. - Pet Parade Registration *Mayor arena*
*10:30 a.m. * Pet Parade * N. Mayor Arena
*10:30 a.m. * Heifer Show * Show Arena
*11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - KMAD Radio Live - **Front Gate
*11:30 a.m. - Gator 911 - N. Mayor Arena
*11:45 a.m. - Cheer Exclusive - Main Stage area
*1:00 p.m. * 3:00 p.m. * Band ***Songwriters, Taylor Walker, Jeff Hopson & **Lisa Johnson, Shaun Michaels * Main Stage
* 1:00 p.m. * Steer Show * Show Arena
*1:00 * 3:00 p.m. * KLAK Radio LIVE **Front Gate
*1:00 p.m. - Gater 911 - N. Mayor Arena
* 2:00 p.m. * Tropical Illusions * N. Mayor Arena
* 3:00 p.m. * Gator 911 * N. Mayor Arena
*3:00 p.m. - Band - Exit 51 - Main Stage
* 4:00 p.m. * Tropical Illusions * N. Mayor Arena
*4:00 - 6:00 pm - Professional Lawn Mower Races - Outdoor Arena
* 4:15 - 6:15 p.m. - Band - Jonathan Jeter & The Revelators - Main Stage
* 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Miss & Mr. Grayson pre-registration - Mayor Arena
* 6:30 p.m. * Tropical Illusions * N. Mayor Arena
* 6:30 - 8:15 p.m. * Band * Mark Shelton & The Greater Good* Main Stage
* 7:30 p.m. - Gator 911 - N. Mayor Arena
* 8:00 p.m. - Miniature Bull Riding - Outdoor Arena
* 8:30 p.m. * Band * Pearl Street Riot * Main Stage
9:00 p.m. * Creative Arts Building & Vendor Row Closes
12:00 a.m. * Midway & Fair Closes
Sunday, October 14, 2012
*12:00 p.m. * Fair Opens
*12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. - Noah's Exotic Animals - **South cattle barn
*12:30 - Gator 911 - N. Mayor Arena
*1:00 p.m. * 2:30 p.m. * Band - Melody Ranch Ramblers * Main Stage
*1:00 p.m. - 1st Annual Bread Contest - Creative Arts
*2:00 p.m. * Little Miss & Mr. Grayson County Fair * N. Mayor Arena
*2:45 - 3:15 pm - Band - Denison H.S. Jazz*
*3:00 pm - Calf Scramble participant meeting
*3:00 p.m. - Miniature Bull Riding - Outdoor Arena
*3:30 p.m. - Band - Fred Spears & Friends including Barefoot Moses - Main Stage
*4:00 p.m. - 2nd Annual Calf Scramble - Outdoor ***Arena
*4:00 p.m. * DHS Jazz Band and Color Guard * Main Stage
*4:00 p.m. * Creative Arts Best of Show Winner Photos * Creative Arts Building
*4:30 p.m. * Tropical Illusions * N. Mayor Arena
*4:45 p.m. * Creative Arts Building Closes
*5:00 p.m. * Band - AC Jazz Band * Main Stage
*5:00 p.m. * 6:00 p.m. * Creative Arts entries released.
6:00 p.m. * Grayson County Fair closes