LIHU‘E — Stephen Ruiz, known for his lettuce and radish at the county Sunshine Markets, topped a field of entries to win top honors in the special beets competition at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair on Thursday. Ruiz’s submission
LIHU‘E — Stephen Ruiz, known for his lettuce and radish at the county Sunshine Markets, topped a field of entries to win top honors in the special beets competition at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair on Thursday.
Ruiz’s submission came early in the day as entries were being submitted for the Fruit and Vegetable Show as well as the Home Economics Show.
The Wooten family, headed by Luisa and Robert, finished below Ruiz in the beet competition with Zongping Huang rounding out the leaderboard for the beets.
The Wooten ‘ohana soared to the top of the High Point standings with 180 points collected over George Mukai of Kapa‘a who ended the night with 121 points for second place.
Jaime Yasutake, who had the only Kaua‘i-grown apples on display, finished in third place with 94 points collected, including her Best in Show fruit, a Rapozo mango.
The Jillian Seals group followed with 56 points and Gladys Oyama rounded out the leaders with 30 points.
Best in Show honors for the vegetable judging went to Rachel Furutani of Lihu‘e for her winter squash submission.
Producers of some of the fruits and vegetables on display also grew items to be used in the Kaua‘i Grown Chef Cookoff for Charity which takes place 1 to 3 p.m. today at the agricultural exhibit tent sponsored by Kaua‘i Coffee.
All submissions will be auctioned off at 8:30 p.m. today, the sale sponsored by the Big Save stores.
Hallie Cristobal was one of the big winners in the 4-H Lamb and Goat Show, taking first place at the agriculture and livestock area supported by Princeville at Hanalei.
Cristobal earned two Grand Champion rosettes and a Reserve Champion ribbon for her lamb and goat during the show, Thursday night. Cristobal’s lamb and goat earned Grand Champion honors and she finished with a Reserve Champion in the Goat Senior Showmanship arena.
Joining her, Chad Andrade earned Grand Champion honors in the goat showing for both his goat and his showmanship skills.
Chloe Bishop’s black-faced lamb, Dixie, earned Grand Champion honors during the showing and she finished as Reserve Champion in the Junior Showmanship arena.
Bill Souza earned the Grand Champion rosette in the Lamb Junior Showmanship.
Megan Souza, a Reserve Champion in the black lamb showing, topped the Senior Showmanship as Grand Champion over Cristobal, the judge noting the tight competition between the competitors and Souza getting the nod based on her experience in the arena.
The Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair continues through Sunday, with gates opening at noon through midnight today and Sunday at the Vidinha Stadium fairgrounds.
• Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
