Region 17 Table Setting Contest: Region 17 Table Setting Contest was held Thursday, August 1 at 4:00pm the Council Bluffs Public Library in Council Bluffs, Iowa.  The Region 17 Table Setting Contest 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.  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.

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.

Region 17 Showcase Results:

Junior Casual Participants: Angelina Cain, Cadence Jahn, Ella Johnson, Summer Maher, London Schueman, Sophia Stroud

• Champion Junior Casual: Ella Johnson
• Reserve Champion Junior Casual: Cadence Jahn

Junior Formal Participants: Lexie Clark, Lilly Kurth, Ailey Marburger, Evelyn Stoakes

• Champion Junior Formal: Evelyn Stoakes
• Reserve Champion Junior Formal: Lilly Kurth

Intermediate Casual Participants: Cale Clark, Rebecca Cody, Paige Goodspeed, Lea Hendrickson, Jaiden Jahn

• Champion Intermediate Casual: Jaiden Jahn
• Reserve Champion Intermediate Casual: Rebecca Cody

Intermediate Formal Participants: Cora Killpack, Emily Newby, Allyee Pierson

• Champion Intermediate Formal: Cora Killpack
• Reserve Champion Intermediate Formal: Allyee Pierson

Senior Casual Participants: Mariah Cain, Kandalyn Davies, Camryn Pierson, Camryn Schafer

• Champion Senior Casual: Kandalyn Davies
• Reserve Champion Senior Casual: Mariah Cain

Senior Formal Participants: Bailey Maher, Anna Newby

• Champion Senior Formal: Anna Newby
• Reserve Champion Senior Formal: Bailey Maher