Home and Garden Show enters final day at Show Me Center

The 28th annual Home and Garden Show, presented by the SEMO Home Builders Association, began Friday, continued Saturday and will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Show Me Center. More than 120 exhibitors displayed their wares, demonstrated gadgets or answered questions about products and services centered around repairing, remodeling, enhancing or building homes.

Flowers, plants, shrubs and small landscaped areas on the lower level greeted visitors upon entry. Everything from banks to bricks to wine and sod could be found on the Show Me Center main floor, with upper-level exhibitors offering makeup, beauty products, toys, homemade food and farmer's market items.

Wines for Humanity, a new exhibitor, hosts wine tastings in clients' homes. Fore every bottle promoted at a tasting event, $1.50 goes straight to Lutheran Family and Children's Services. Charities vary by region, but the purpose is to raise more money for the prevention of homelessness in families with children.

Amber Bertrand of Cape Girardeau said she didn't know what kind of wine she liked, and "I learned how to make choices at a restaurant so I'm not throwing away $5 per glass."

The showroom floor seemed to have more large displays than last year. A complete Rainbow play system for children was set up, as well as a Swim Spa with three waterfalls and two "therapy seats."

Mike and Lori Myers of Fredericktown, Mo., were impressed with the Swim Spa but said the jet tub they used daily at home still met their needs. The couple compromised on recreation Saturday by going metal detecting at Niswonger Church before attending the Home Show. They come to the show fairly regularly. "Last year we bought cookware," Mike said.

At the Kitchen Craft booth, chef Mark Temares talked about health and nutrition as well as the line of waterless cookware he was selling. Ruth Ann Levinson of Cobden, Ill., said she thought the cookware was nice-looking. It was the first time she sat through an entire cooking workshop and said because she was there with her mother, who wanted to hear the presentation, she stayed, too.

"I probably won't buy it, but I like being able to put the electric skillet in the dishwasher," Levinson said.

A few booths away, the smell of grilled steak drew attention. The scent-powered marketing technique helped sell a propane grill, with another almost sold, according to John Payne, Kenco operations/sales manager. Over two days, Payne said he grilled more than 30 pounds of meat.

Visitors who followed their noses to the Kenco display were presented with an ideal outdoor living area, not just grills. "The outdoor-living category is huge in coastal areas, but the market is migrating rapidly," Payne said.

The show brought in a significant number of other displays and demonstrations, many of which will still be up and running today. Admission at the show is $5.00 for adults; children 12 and younger are free.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

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