Cleo McManaway Wins Best Of Show, Seven Blue Ribbons

Cleo McManaway's prize-winning exhibits in the hobby division on display Saturday afternoon at the Effingham County Fair.

BY KURT BECKER

ALTAMONT, IL ) -- Cleo McManaway of Dieterich captured Best of Show and Reserve Champion honors in the hobby contest and took blue ribbons in seven of the fair's categories for antiques Saturday morning, as judging got underway at the 77th annual Effingham County Fair. 

McManaway won Best of Show with his entry in the woodworking category and added a Reserve Champion trophy with his collection of advertising boxes, making him the first exhibitor in the fair's history to sweep both titles in the same season in the hobby department.

In the antique division, McManaway took first-place honors in Christmas ornament, spoon holder, vinegar cruet, hand-cut glass, miscellaneous glassware, hair receiver dish, and kitchen article. 

Bernadine Blakely captured Best of Show for non-glassware antiques with her graniteware entry, while Kurt Becker won top honors in the glassware division with a covered butter dish made of custard glass. The Best of Show trophy was Blakely's first, while Becker won for the fourth time in the last seven years. Both exhibitors are from Altamont. 

In the culinary department, Ruth Spilker of Altamont won Best Cake for the third time in the last 10 years, capturing the title on this occasion with a triple-decker strawberry creation.

Valena Soltwedel of Effingham won the award for Best Novelty Decorated Cake, while Susan Van Dyke of Mason was champion in the yeast breads division.