SYRACUSE - For children involved with Cayuga County 4-H, the New York State Fair was their chance to show off their accomplishments in a large county exhibit.

Dorothy Dresser, the 4-H educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County, said the children's work had to be picked during the county fair to be eligible for the state fair. This year's display, which will be open until Thursday night, included flower arrangements, various animal reports, small animal exhibits and arts and crafts.

“A judge then goes around and judges the stuff in each display,” Dresser said. “A blue ribbon means excellent, a red ribbon means good and a white ribbon means worthy. The kids strive for the blue ribbons.”

Zack Davis, 11, received a red ribbon for a decoupage wildlife picture he made during his first year with the county's 4-H club.

“I was like ‘wow,'” said Zack, when he found out at the county fair that his piece would be shown in Syracuse. “I thought it would just win a ribbon and that was it.”

For Mark and Becky Davis, Zack's parents, they couldn't help but feel proud of their son's accomplishments.

“We always come to the fair, but there was more of an incentive to come this year because they are in it,” said Mark, who is a former 4-H member. “I guess if you had to put it into one word, it would be proud.”

Tracey Casler, who had children in the Herkimer County 4-H program, said her family admired a horse ribbon collage and a dog teepee which were also on display.

“The fair is a great opportunity to show kids what they can do as they get older,” Casler said. “We have just started looking at the displays, but we really like this one.”

As visitors toured the exhibit, five children from the 4-H club in the Cato and Port Byron areas set up a bubble painting table. By blowing through a straw into a mixture of paint, soap and water, the children made bubbles that would pop when they were placed on construction paper, creating overlapping red, orange, pink, green or blue rings.

“It's kind of like blowing bubbles in your milk,” said Kierston Brown, 11, of Cato.

Ellen Brown, Kierston's mother, said she wanted to show parents a simple, creative and cheap activity they could do with their children that was easy for her and her children to set up and clean up at the fair.

“We figured this would be a fun and easy project for everyone,” Ellen said. “Kids always get yelled at for blowing bubbles in their milk, so this makes it one of those rainy day projects to learn and have fun.”

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net

If you go

What: The New York State Fair

When: Gates open at 8 a.m. daily through Sept. 1 Exhibit buildings are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Where: The State fairgrounds, 581 State Fair Blvd.

Cost: $10 per person at the gate. Free for children 12 and under.

Information: Call 900-475-FAIR or 487-7711.