Get creative this autumn

Applications are beginning to come in for the 2021 Hopkins County Fall Festival Arts & Crafts Show! This is always a premier event of the Fall Festival where home artisans create items to sell. You’ll find all kinds of items, from beautifully hand-crafted greeting cards to bath soaps and lotions. Jewelry, paintings, crocheted toys and blankets, Christmas and fall decorations, clothing items, home décor, and many other one-of-a-kind treasures can also be found at the Arts & Crafts Show. The dates are Oct. 22-23 at the Sulphur Springs High School cafeteria and north entrance. So, rain or shine, come enjoy shopping and visiting! If you or someone you know would like to have a space, please contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 903- 885-3443 and we’ll give you the details. You do not have to be from Hopkins County to have a space. The deadline to reserve a space is Oct. 11 or until spaces fill.

Another great event taking place during the 2021 Hopkins County Fall Festival is the Creative Arts Contest. Formerly known as the Household Arts Contest, this is for individuals or school groups to enter items to be judged. There are several categories: art, baked goods, clothing, creative crafts, decorated cakes, food preservation, handiwork, holiday/seasonal, horticulture, photography, quilts and woodworking. We also have a separate division for Assisted Living/Nursing Home residents. No professional entries allowed (example: photos from a professional photographer, centerpiece from a florist, etc.) Participants must be from Hopkins County due to exhibit space limitations.

Age divisions are: Children (ages 10 and under); youth (ages 11-19); adults (ages 20 to 69) and mature Texans (ages 70 and above). Entries will be judged on Friday, Oct. 22 and on display to the public Friday afternoon and Saturday, Oct. 23. Blue, red or white ribbons will be awarded, as well as Best of Show and Reserve Best of Show for the top entries in each category and age group. This event will be held in the Sulphur Springs High School Conference Center. Even though it is too soon to enter items, I wanted to give you plenty of time to plan ahead! More information will be available soon, so stay tuned!

4-H ACHIEVEMENT BANQUET

Each year, we pay tribute to our 4-H program, leaders and youth who have excelled in 4-H. Saturday, Aug. 21, we will hold the 2021 Hopkins County 4-H Achievement Banquet at the Hopkins County Civic Center. 4-H members will be recognized for their participation in county, district, and state events, as well as individual 4-H members who have applied for special awards. The 4-H Leader of the Year and 4-H Supporter of the Year will also be recognized. Reservations are required in order to make adequate preparations for seating and catering. Tickets are $2 each and may be picked up at the Hopkins County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200 W. Houston, Sulphur Springs.

County 4-H Council officers for 2021/2022 will be installed, as well. 4-H families are encouraged to attend and bring relatives and friends.