Quilter Cheryl Shaeffer has 17 projects she has chosen for the Moody County Fair later this month.

From table runners to larger quilts, it’s one way the Flandreau woman enjoys sharing her hobby with the community.

Fair organizers are hoping that more people follow Shaeffer’s enthusiasm for their hobbies and exhibit in the open classes at the fair. Quilting, photography and antiques, a category added last year, have grown recently, said Phyllis Porisch, who is on the fair board.

“I love to quilt. I love to see what other quilters have done to get ideas. I like to show what I do. It’s just a hobby I so enjoy doing,” Shaeffer said. “I choose the ones that are my favorites. I know they are not all worthy of first place ribbons. But the ones that are my favorites are the ones that I enter.”

Moody County Fair’s open class is a chance for a grown-up show and share of talents and skills, a version of the child-oriented show and tell.

The fair is July 24-28 with entries being accepted from 4 to 7 p.m. July 24 and from 9 to 10 a.m. July 25. Judging will follow.

Porisch has entered exhibits for years, too, often showing her hardanger, a type of Norwegian needlework.

“I have done a lot of things, painting over the years, I’m in music. I just like a lot of things I do,” she said. “I just enjoy those creative things.”

In addition to photography, quilting and antiques, other categories to enter are needlework, foods, food preservation, art, crafts, horticulture and literature. Participants win ribbons and can qualify for Best of Show and honorable mention.

“If they’re interested in doing something, if they’ve had a class or workshop somewhere, we just encourage them to bring that item,” Porisch said. No matter what it is, usually workers at the static exhibits check-in table will find a category for it, she said.

“People should be encouraged to share their abilities or their interests with everyone,” she said.

Anyone of any age can enter because there is a junior and senior division. Items must have been made in the last two years and can’t have been exhibited before.

Deon Jensen of Trent arranges flowers and enters her favorite antiques. She used to bake, using her best 4-H recipes from over the years. She got interested in doing projects as a 4-H member and has exhibited in open class ever since graduating from the program.

“It’s not for the prize money. It’s not for the ribbon,” she said. “It’s just to share.”