Scott Beal Wins Best Of Show, Becker Most Blue Ribbons At State Fair

Martha Lister, superintendent of the hobby contest at the Illinois State Fair, presents Scott Beal of Mason with a $100 gift certificate for winning Best of Show in the fair's antique contest.

SPRINGFIELD -- Scott Beal struck a blow for Effingham County at the Illinois State Fair Friday, when judges announced that his entry in pressed, colored glassware had been named Best of Show in the antiques division of the fair's annual hobby contest. 

Beal, 51, of Mason, won the award with a 19th-century, canary-yellow, uranium-glass celery yacht manufactured by Hobbs, Bruckunier & Co. of Wheeling, WV. The piece features its original, quadruple-plated silver stand and dates to the 1880s. 

Beal has been a glassware collector for 25 years and owns one of the top uranium/vaseline glass collections in central Illinois. This marks his second time in three years to win the most coveted honor in the Illinois State Fair antique competition.

He also won first place in the pressed, colored glass.

Kurt Becker of Altamont tied with James "Jim" Snopko of Springfield for most blue ribbons in the contest, as each finished with eight. Becker's wins came in dairy jars, vinegar cruets, bride's basket, china dishes, water sets, children's books, fishing lures, and collection of Illinois State Fair souvenirs. 

Becker also got seconds in berry set, bowl and two saucers; clear pressed pattern glass; Hen on a basket; meat platter; most unusual antique; religious books; small World War I memorabilia; stemmed goblets, any glass, crystal, press glass, milk glass; sugar and creamer set; toys prior to 1950; thirds in Majolica; mesh or beaded purse; milk glass; small World World II memorabilia and Illinois State Fair souvenirs or ribbons after 1950 and fourths in carnival glass; glass art; inkwell sets; Kentucky Derby glasses and political/advertising buttons.

Joann Ullrich of Altamont took third in embroidered/crewel pillows, coverinags and pictures.

Deken Kemme of Mason finished second in AOB 2-3-Year-Old cows born performance.

Beal's prize-winning entry, which advanced to the finals after winning the pressed, colored glassware division.