The Montgomery County Extension Office reports the Region 17 Showcase was held Tuesday, July 31 at 4:30pm the Council Bluffs Public Library in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The Region 17 Showcase night is an event bringing the best of the best from each county in Region 17 together to compete for the top table setting in each category and age division along with the top Junk in a Bucket. Counties in Region 17 include Fremont, Harrison, Mills, Montgomery, Page, East Pottawattamie and West Pottawattamie.

During each county fair, each county holds a Table Setting Contest where youth choose a theme for either a formal or casual table setting. They plan a menu of what would be served, arrange a full single table setting with flatware, stemware, and dinnerware as needed to serve the planned meal at their dinner or party. They create a centerpiece to fit the theme. Finally, they set up the table setting, menu and centerpiece on a card table, or for informal table settings such as a picnic, arrange everything on a blanket on the floor. They youth wear clothing that goes along with the theme to strengthen the presentation. A judge then talks to the participant and judges them on their planning skills, ability to set a proper table, manners, ability to develop a theme, the menu, centerpiece and clothing choices, hospitality skills and communication throughout the judging process.

Junior Casual

Junior Formal

Will Pollock

Youth are divided into age groups of juniors (grades 4-6), intermediates (grades 7-8) and seniors (grades 9-12) and then are divided again into the categories of formal or casual. At the end of each county fair, their top junior, intermediate and senior in both casual and formal are selected to participate in the Region 17 Showcase night. Youth came together, set up their tables and were judged. The top junior, intermediate and senior in both casual and formal were selected and received an award at the end of the showcase evening. In addition to the Table Setting Contest, Junk in a Bucket Contest also takes place at the Region 17 Showcase. Each county again holds their own Junk in a Bucket contest at their county fair and select their top creation to send on to the Showcase.

Prior to county fair, participants receive a bucket full of metal scraps. Using their creativity, they create something fun, weld it together and bring it to fair. Creations are judged by people’s choice voting and the top creation is selected to participate at Region 17 Showcase. County winners bring their Junk in a Bucket creation to be on display during the evening and other participants along with the public vote for their favorite creation. At the end of the evening, the top youth were awarded.