Area residents take home state fair awards

The Minnesota State Fair closed with a record Labor Day attendance of 178,867. The cumulative attendance for the 2015 Great Minnesota Get-Together was 1,779,738, the State Fair announced in a news release, bringing final numbers within 2.5 percent of last year’s all-time record total.
The Minnesota State Fair’s agricultural and creative competitions drew more than 30,000 entries this year, with competitors vying for a share of ribbons, trophies and more than $1.3 million in prize money. Competitions included events for livestock, horses, school projects, dog trials, baked and canned goods, fruit, vegetables, crafts, bee and honey products, fine arts, farm crops, flowers, butter, cheese and more.
Nearly 6,000 fans cheered on the best amateur talent in the state at the 43rd Annual State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals held Sunday at the Grandstand.
Taking third place in the preteen division was Ava Hanson of New London. The 12-year-old daughter of Matt and Jennifer Hanson gave a vocal and guitar performance of original song “Summer in Minnesota.”
In open class livestock competitions, supreme champion titles were awarded to the best grand champions out of all beef and dairy breeds, and breeding sheep and swine.
Taking the Open Class Supreme Champion Beef Bull was Mark and Amanda Hilbrands from Hilbrands Cattle Co. in Clara City.
Matthew Gunderson of the MACCRAY FFA Chapter received the Douglas K. Baldwin Award for FFA livestock show participation and leadership.