Fair superintendent retires after 20 years
Laudenschlager passes baton in Needlework and Food Division
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For 20 years, Fern Laudenschlager has been coordinating the open class food and needlework exhibits at the North Dakota State Fair.
But this is her last year as she stepped down following the recent nine-day run of the fair in Minot to hand the Food and Needlework superintendent position off to Merry Green.
"I have no qualms about leaving them in her hands," Laudenschlager said, noting Green's background. Green is a former Extension home economist who has exhibited at the fair.
"It's a big responsibility," Laudenschlager, 80, said of the tasks she's coordinated for so many years. Having a personal interest in quilting, she took on the job because she had been looking for something to do.
"I really enjoyed it every year. The people got to be your friends. You see them year after year," she said. She leaves with fond memories of exhibitors, co-workers and fair staff.
The numbers of exhibits have declined some, but Laudenschlager still sees new exhibitors each year and reports exhibits were up this year.
During the fair, Laudenschlager often can be found tidying up around exhibits, trouble-shooting, answering questions or just visiting with people who tour the displays.
"The fun part of it is during the fair when everything is all put up and organized," she said.
Initially, Laudenschlager did much of the work herself to manage the exhibit area. Putting in some late nights, she quickly determined she needed a crew behind her and built a dependable team to help ensure things run smoothly.
"I have always had real good people year after year that have come and worked with me," she said.
The work starts a week before the fair when needlework entries begin arriving. Food entries come in a couple of days before the fair starts, and everything gets judged before the gates open to the public. Laudenschlager said the division has been fortunate to have a certified quilt judge from Minneapolis participate in the judging.
Her least favorite part of the position has been the paperwork, although she acknowledges getting judging results to the fair office and getting exhibits properly checked in and out are important aspects of the job.
A favorite part of the job has been meeting the exhibitors and seeing their work. Their creativity in needlework, decorating cakes and other entries never ceased to impress her.
"The talent in this state is unreal," she said.