Creative arts team readies for Feb. 1 deadline
By QUALA MATOCHA lifestyle@leader-news.com

Photo by Quala Matocha Wharton County Youth Fair's "C.A. Chicks," Mary Jane Dornak, Grace Glaze and Barbara Socha have been heading up the Wharton County Youth Fair Creative Arts Department for the past 10 years and have been volunteers at the fair for 25 to 30 years.

Referred to as the "C.A. Chicks," Grace Glaze, Mary Jane Dornak and Barbara Socha have been heading up the Wharton County Youth Fair Creative Arts Department for the past 10 years and have been volunteers at the fair for 25-30 years.

"We took it over in 1997," Glaze said. "This is our 11th year," added Dornak. Before that, Pauline Kalina and Frances Cullers were in charge.

"Pauline was the executive director," Glaze said. "There has always been a home economics department at the fair and an interest in this area, especially for those who do not have animal exhibits."

In the beginning, the show was open only to 4-H, FFA and FHA members. Since there was a growing interest from other groups, a few years later the department added open youth and adult categories. They also display the Go Texan Quilt contest.

"The first place exhibitor is entered in the Go Texan event at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo," Glaze added.

In the early days, the fair was held at the Wharton County Junior College campus in Wharton.

"It was called the Wharton County Fair," Glaze said. "Then they moved it to the precinct barn in Pierce for a few years."

After the Crescent school grounds were purchased, the fair moved to its present location.

According to Glaze, "Volunteers play a big role in the Wharton County Youth Fair. The Creative Arts Department is a big production. There is absolutely no way we could put this together without dedicated volunteers and parent support."

It takes about 100 volunteers to prepare for the event. As executive directors, these three ladies go through preliminary stages from categorizing entry forms, entering them into the computer and mailing exhibitors their tags. Check-in involves more work with the help of other volunteers and about 40 out-of-county volunteers judging the entries.

There have been some changes over the years, as well as new interests.

"Exhibitors and articles have increased," Socha said.

There is an average of about 500 exhibitors each year. One area that has gained popularity is the photography and art section.

"Photography has really grown," Glaze said. "Last year we had 900 entries."

"That's our largest section," Dornak added.

In an approximately 4,500-squarefoot building, volunteers manage to organize and display about 4,500 items for judging and viewing.

Because of increased costs and postage, entry fees have also gone up. This year, those entering 1-9 items will pay $5; 10-30 will be $10 and 31-60 items will cost $15. Another reason for the increase is to be consistent with the livestock entry fees.

Working in the Creative Arts Department is a year-round job. "We start planning for next year right after it is over," Glaze said. "We have an evaluation meeting," Socha added.

The three also consider input from others.

"We have a suggestion box," Glaze said. "We take and implement what we can and some are just beyond our control."

"We take out and add some categories, like to include whatever is in the craft stores," Dornak added.

Currently, a new computer program is being implemented for the Creative Arts Department.

"Doug Light, fair director, and Jaime Bosch and Lynn Hough, extension secretaries, are working on a new updated program," Glaze said. "Putting 4,500 articles and 500 exhibitors on the old program that is obsolete, well, one morning it could crater."

"This will make it easier to put on the Web too," Dornak added. She and Socha are responsible for entering the data into the computer.

"Grace just points the finger," Dornak said jokingly. "Her favorite motto is: 'Daylight's a'wasting."

But they do it for the youth of Wharton County.

"This is such an important opportunity, that any youth has the opportunity to enter," Glaze said. "They are learning life skills."

While these ladies devote much of their time to the Creative Arts Department, they volunteer in other areas at the fair. Dornak helps her husband Preston with the tractor pull, the Sale of Excellence, preschool day, poultry and senior citizens' day. Socha assists her husband Jodie with senior citizens' day, exhibitors' awards banquet and Sale of Excellence. Glaze serves as dairy chairwoman, Junior Fair Board sponsor and Wharton County Youth Fair director and assists with preschool and senior citizens' days.

"We are pretty much full-time volunteers," Dornak said. "We work long and hard hours, but if it's something you believe in, it's not hard to do."

This year, entry forms are due no later than 5 p.m., Feb. 1. Forms are available online at www.whartoncountyyouthfair. org, or at the El Campo and Wharton Chamber offices, East Bernard Library, extension office or the fair office.

The ladies will also be on hand Jan. 30 and 31 and Feb. 1 at the Creative Arts building to answer any questions exhibitors may have.