Floriculture Boasts Beautiful Blooms at the Logan County Fair

[July 30, 2025]  The first day of the Floriculture competition at the Logan County Fair saw gardeners bringing beautiful cut flowers, plants, and arrangements to the fair for judging in Tuesday’s show. Divisions in Tuesday’s judging included Cut Flowers, Gladiolus, Arrangements for Artistic Effects, Roses, and Small Plants. The top four in each category received a ribbon and a cash prize with championships also awarded in each division. Cut Flowers featured both annuals and perennials with favorites such as marigolds, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and sunflowers plus 22 other categories and four types of Gladiolus vying for ribbons. Flower arrangers had the option of ten different themes for artistic arrangements within this year’s theme of “Quips and Quotes and Floral Notes.” These creations were set up in triptychs lining the walls of the showroom. Each category used a quotation to inspire the arrangement such as “One bright shiny start” and “Family reunion picnic.”

Nineteen separate categories of roses sorted by color and size filled one third of the show space with shades of red, pink, yellow, and white as well as a lovely fragrance. Small plants no taller than 12 inches, in pots no larger than seven inches by seven inches, rounded out the contest with examples of cactus, succulents, and small flowering plants and herbs. Tuesday’s Challenge Classes– Illinois Challenge, Pat LaForge Memorial Challenge, and Edith Wibben Memorial Challenge– offered special awards for winners of these three classes. The Illinois Challenge Class of one herb and one cut flower in one container was awarded a prize from Lincoln Farm and Home Supply. The Pat LaForge Memorial Challenge of a floral arrangement of fresh flowers with a religious theme was this year inspired by the quote “When I Heard the Church Bells Ring” and an award was given by her family. The Edith Wibben Memorial Challenge Class was for a hanging plant with a special award given by her family.

This year’s Champions and Challenge winners are:

Illinois Challenge– Susan Selenik

Pat LaForge Memorial Challenge– Wayne LaForge

Grand Champion Arrangement– Jenna Conrady

Reserve Champion Arrangement– Cindy Gleason

Grand Champion Rose– Kaye Wessbecher

Reserve Champion Rose– Jim Wessbecher
 

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Grand Champion Cut Flower– Susan Selenik

Reserve Champion Cut Flower– Susan Selenik

Grand Champion Gladiolus– Wayne LaForge

Grand Champion Small Plant– Jim Wessbecher

Reserve Champion Small Plant– Susan Selenik

[Stephanie Hall]

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