Big Winner at SEMO Dist. Fair 2015

I have participated in SEMO District Fair in 2013 & 2014. This is my 3rd year participating and each year builds my encouragement to continue participating. The first year I was awarded 3 ribbons and one Best of Show ribbon for my canned Peaches from Diebold's Orchard! The second year amazingly I was awarded 7 ribbons. As long as time allows I will be an annual participant.

I won a amazing total of 13 Ribbons this year spanning through three Divisions - Canned Foods, Baked Goods and Photography - WOW! I was astounded to say the least!!

I was awarded 9 ribbons this year in the Canned Foods Division; 2 ribbons in the Baked Goods Division; and 2 ribbons in the Photography Division at the SEMO District Fair in Cape Girardeau.

1ST PLACE BLUE RIBBON -

Peaches

Peach Butter

BBQ Sauce - Chipotle Maple

Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip Cookies

Angel Food Cake

2ND PLACE RED RIBBON -

Salsa

Chili Sauce

Tomato Sauce

Peach Fruit Juice

Color Photography Wedding Photo

3RD PLACE WHITE RIBBON -

Tomato Juice

Apple Jam

Color Photography Sports/Action Photo

This year was so amazing! Peaches from Diebold's Orchard won me 1st Place Ribbons for my canned Peaches and also Peach Butter! I was awarded 1st Place Ribbon for my Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip cookies - a step up this year as I entered this cookie last year and received a 2nd place ribbon 😊 My Oatmeal Raisin Cinnamon Chip cookies (nicknamed Brandon's cookies)became a favorite when my dearest Friend from childhood, Gina Graham and I during one of our annual Christmas baking marathons tried out this recipe, and her son Brandon (who does not like raisins) raved how much he liked this cookie, hence we named the recipe Brandon's Cookies. It is now Brandon's favorite cookie as well as my Father-in-law's favorite, Marion Oakley long time resident of Wyatt, MO. I have enjoyed cooking and baking my entire life. I am happiest in the kitchen just as I was as a child in the kitchen by the side of Grandma Mozell Hartwick as she patiently and lovingly shared her love, skills and knowledge of the culinary world she was so wonderful in. I am blessed enough to have several awesome recipes collected from her through our loving years together. This year I was awarded a 3rd Place ribbon for my late Grandma Mozell Hartwick's special recipe for her Tomato Juice. I feel my Grandma's loving smile shinning down on me from heaven as I know she is just bursting with joy and pride!

I enjoy attending my grandchildren's sporting events and taking photos. They are perfect subjects! My granddaughter Kaytlin Oakley is a cheerleader at East Prairie High School, my grandson Gage Eaves plays JV Football for East Prairie High School, grandsons Hayden, Dalton, and Hunter also participate in East Prairie School sports. My entry in the Color Sports/Action Photo category awarded me a 3rd place ribbon for a photo of my granddaughter Allie Eaves steeling a base during one of her Softball games - she is a great team player participating in East Prairie's summer softball leagues as well as plays on travel team out of New Madrid, MO. This year I entered a photo from my nieces beach weeding in Destin, Florida which I was astonished to be awarded a 2nd place ribbon! The Photography Division is for amateurs only therefore I definitely qualify in this division. I have enjoyed Photography since my high school years. Being part of the Photography Club at Charleston Senior High was an inspirational experience for me. Through the years my love for photography has continued to grow. I have many family and friends that are kind enough to indulge me when I get on a picture taking spree 😊 I have participated in a couple of photography classes offered through the Sikeston Career and Technology Center which has improved my knowledge and skills of my camera as well as the program I use to critique my photos. I encourage any lover of Photography to attend any of the classes offered locally - they are fun and inspirational!

The SEMO District Fair is an annual event held each year during September in Cape Girardeau, MO. I'd like to encourage others, children and adults, to enter their specialties. There is a large list of various divisions you can find on the web site www.semofair.com. I send a shout out to my loving husband Steven Wayne Oakley of Oakley's Used Cars and Oakley's Market in Wyatt, MO for all his encouragement, support and being my sample taster for all my entries - thank you My Love!

Thank you,

Linda Oakley

917 Stanford Dr.

Sikeston, MO 63801

Phone: 573.475.0305