I Saw It at the Fair

The Hunterdon County Rug Artisans Guild participates in the Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair held annually in Ringoes, New Jersey. Typically, several glass-enclosed display cases hold a wide variety of rugs and punch-needle pieces, and fairgoers stop at our tent each year just to see hooked rugs.

In 2021, an additional cabinet held a special collection of small mats for our theme challenge: “I Saw It at the Fair.” We were challenged to recall our fair experiences and to hook a subject that took us back to the “good old days” at the county fair. Rug entries included an assortment of sheep, rabbits, horses, pigs, roosters, barns, ribbons, carousels, a honeybee, a tractor, and a jar of honey. (No funnel cake?!) Enthusiastic fairgoers lingered over our exhibit, pointing and whispering, choosing which they would take home if they could.