Lee CountyFair - 6 for 6

LMA Designs would like to thank the Sanford Lions Club members & volunteers for all their efforts in putting together the annual Lee Regional Fair. It has been such an honor to have been invited and have participated Artisan Showcase in the Commercial Exhibit Hall, and even more so to have been awarded six ribbons in the Agricultural Hall. The event is held annually at the Sanford Lions Club Fairgrounds, located at 505 N 7th St, Sanford, NC 27330; this year's fair took place from September 13th-17th.

For some background on the Fair: In 1935, the Sanford Lions Club took over control of the Fair and has been working to improve and expand the event and its offerings every year; the name changed from the Lee County Fair to the Lee Regional Fair in 2006, the same year the pageants were added. From 2007-2018, the NC Fair Association has recognized the Lee Regional Fair with its Image, Youth, Agriculture, and Media Awards. In the past fifteen years, The Lions Club has also added a Demolition Derby & motorcycle racing, revived the cheerleading exhibition, invested in further developments to the race track, and added a working tobacco barn to reflect the local agricultural history of the area.

This year, the total results from last year’s Agricultural Hall Exhibits were proudly announced. In 2022, the Agricultural Exhibit Hall saw 83 youth exhibitors entering a total of 555 exhibits & 165 adult exhibitors contributing a further 1,086 exhibits for a grand total of 1,641 exhibitions. Additionally, the Lions Club awarded 1,171 ribbons and a whopping $22,108.00 in total prize money. The individual ribbons were distributed as: 620 Blue First Place, 358 Red Second Place, and 193 White Third Place.

In the Artisan Showcase, LMA Designs collaborated with classically-trained portrait artist extraordinaire Leigh T. Shine, whose talents are an utmost asset to this community. With her ability to create vivid, awe-inspiring art in a variety of mediums and styles, it is a great privilege and point of pride to work with Leigh and to be able to say she is not only a great artist but a great friend. Leigh Shine & LMA Designs will also be at Carolina Indie Fest Presented by Hugger Mugger Brewing, on Friday, September 29th & Saturday, September 30th at 229 Wicker St., Sanford, NC 27330; both artists will be located near the food trucks in the municipal parking lot on Steele Street (near the steps which lead down to the brewery), with adjacent booths.

You won't want to miss Indie Fest; it is the kickoff event of the Fall Festival Season in Lee County, with some of the best music, artists, beer, & food North Carolina has to offer AND IT IS FREE TO ENTER + WATCH THE BANDS. Carolina Indie Fest is one of the only festivals in NC able to offer free admission, thanks to the participating vendor sponsors--your welcome! ;)

It is also such an honor to have received six ribbons for my entries, across six categories entered--two first place, two second place, and two third place. The categories and places earned are as follows:

• First Place - Arts (Natural/Organic Decorative Craft - Adult) - Seashell Item: Found Object Sculpture - Hand-Gilded Whelk Shell, with Coral, & Pearls; embellished with Swarovski Crystals; mounted on Vintage Sterling Plated Dish; Whelk and Coral found during Low Tide, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - 2023

• First Place - Arts (Hobbies - Adult) Artificial Flower Arrangement: “Flower Home - More Precious then Rubies”

• Second Place - Sewing (Clothing - Adult) Skirt: Blue Glitter Hi-Low Skirt with Front Bow Feature

• Second Place - Arts (Jewelry - Adult) Metal Jewelry: ‘Wild Hearts’ Gold Filled Chandelier Earrings with Color-Shift Swarovski Crystal

• Third Place - Arts (Jewelry - Adult) Beaded Jewelry: Rhodonite & Swarovski Crystal Macrame Statement Necklace with Lobster Claw Clasp

• Third Place - Arts (Jewelry - Adult) Natural/Organic Jewelry: Garnet & Obsidian Macrame Necklace with Lobster Claw Clasp