Mary Streaker comes back every year because of the people.
“I like seeing the people, because you never get to see them all any other time,” she said. “It?s the one time you can be part of the community ? otherwise everyone lives in their own separate world.”
This year, Streaker is attending her 61st Howard County fair. The Poplar Springs resident, who began attending the fair at the age of 14, missed only one in 1993 when she was on vacation.
Changes through the years
The native of western Howard County said the emphasis was mainlyon dairy cows when the fair started in what was then a largely rural county.
But now, with schools, houses and golf courses replacing farms, the Howard County fair board has worked hard at maintaining rural traditions including animal judging and horse-pulling contests, she said.
Streaker, who will turn 76 on Aug. 11, has served the fair in numerous capacities including being the co-superintendent of the Home Arts Department for seven years.
Streaker?s department accepts a broad range of entries from baked foods to clothing to photography. She said photography entries have spiked because of digital cameras, and baking has remained strong but entries for preserved foods have declined.
In addition to overseeing the department, part of her job is making sure the volunteers are happy.
“I try to keep it at a very positive level with a lot of encouragement and a lot of praise,” she said. “I want to help people feel like they?re valued and appreciated, because you can?t do this with one or two people.”
A realist artist by trade who also runs a studio, Streaker now teaches art at the Blakehurst Retirement Community in Towson and will be submitting 20 of her students? pieces to the fair.
Streaker is a real ?people person?
Streaker has a way with people and goes about her work in a quiet but effective way, said Cheryl Dick, assistant chairwoman of the baking department, and her brother Ed Dick, head of the flower department. Both departments fall within the Home Arts Department.
“She?s been doing this for quite a long time and has a good rapport with people,” Ed Dick said. “I?m not sure some people would volunteer if it weren?t for her.”
ChiChi Brown, chairwoman of admissions, said she personally felt the building where the entries are submitted and judged could not be run as successfully without Streaker.
“You have to be a people person to do it, because it?s all volunteers, and there are many personalities in addition to what it takes to organize and exhibit,” Brown said.
For her hard work and dedication, Streaker was honored in 2006 with the Maryland Fair Person of the Year award given by the Maryland Association of Agricultural Fairs & Shows.
Part of the honor recognized her work overseeing the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival for 13 years.
Streaker said she saw the festival grow from a small event to one that now draws an international crowd.
Boys compete in new Future Farmer contest
Five boys will compete in a new Howard County fair contest to help Miss Howard County and Little Miss Howard County promote agriculture in the region.
“The job is going to be sort of as a spokesman, but mostly to make appearances to raise awareness for agriculture,” said Dawn Watkins, co-chairwoman for events.
The boys between the ages of 8 and 11 are required to answer correctly questions about their agricultural project posters to win the Howard County Future Farmer event at 3 p.m. Sunday in the show ring.
Little Miss Howard County, which started the previous year, is the female equivalent to the Howard County Future Farmer.
Last year, no boys participated in the Future Farmer contest, Watkins said.
Little Miss Howard County and the Future Farmer will assist Miss Howard County Farm Bureau, for girls between 16 and 19, during the fair week and rest of the year at schools, fairs, parades and other special venues.
The contest is sponsored by the Howard County Farm Bureau and Howard County Young Farmers.
The families of the contestants must be a member of the Howard County Farm Bureau and the contestants must belong to 4-H or participate in an agricultural activity like gardening, food and nutrition, home economics, and animal projects, said fair secretary Bettina Catalano.
All the contestants will be given prizes, and winners will each receive a project scholarship and special gifts.
IF YOU GO
» What: The 62nd annual Howard County Fair
» When: Today through Aug. 11. Gates open at 8 a.m.
» Where: Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship
» Tickets: $5, 10 and older; free for children under 10. Season pass is $15.
» Info: www.howardcountyfair.org
