Open class superintendents gathered around as judge Barb Knutson, at right, took a closer look at a handicrafts entry at the Lyon County Fair.

MARSHALL — The Lyon County fairgrounds was a busy place on Wednesday, as workers and volunteers prepared for the fair to open. Part of the bustle was going on inside the open class exhibit building, as judges examined fair entries ranging from paintings to potted plants and baked goods.

“We try to keep it at a decent clip,” said Glenda Vizecky, one of the superintendents working alongside open class judges. They needed to have the open class displays ready when the fair gates opened Wednesday afternoon.

While it wasn’t always easy to decide on winning fair entries, judges said it was a fun experience.

“I just like seeing the amazing projects that people have done,” said Barb Knutson, one of the judges working Wednesday. “Just the creativity and time they put into their projects.”

The judges’ work could get pretty hands-on. At one end of the exhibit hall, Joyce Soderholm sat at a table as Patty Lessman and Taryn Lessman brought her plates of baked goods, like muffins and breads, entered in the fair. Soderholm took a closer look at each entry, before slicing off small pieces to taste test.

“I don’t go home hungry,” she said of her job.

Soderholm, a Worthington resident, said she was first asked about working as a fair judge after getting involved in 4-H.

“I have three girls, and they all were in 4-H,” Soderholm said.

Soderholm said she’s traveled to communities in Iowa and Minnesota to serve as a judge for county fairs. “It’s just because I like doing it,” she said. Soderholm said meeting new people was part of what she enjoyed about judging.

There were a lot of different categories for fair entries, and different things judges were looking for in each category. As she judged quilts, Judy Timmerman looked closely at the stitching and construction of each one.

“You look at the stitching, and the piecing in it – if the quilt blocks all match up,” Timmerman said.

Knutson said when she judged sewn garments, she also looked at factors like the construction of the clothing. When there was a lot of competition, she said she also considered the complexity of the garments.

Suzanne Schmiesing said this year was her third judging entries of flowers and plants at the Lyon County Fair. “It’s difficult at times,” she said – especially when she had to compare different kinds of plants, she said. But there were basic things judges looked for. “I first try to make sure (entries) are following the rules,” she said. Then there were factors like the quality and freshness of entries, or their unique character.

Schmiesing said judging for the fair was a way to help give back to the community, with her background in horticulture. Working with the floral superintendents was a good experience too. “The ladies are awesome,” she said.

Entries in the open class building will be on display this week as part of the fair.

“We have a lot of new exhibitors,” Vizecky said of this year’s open class fair entries. One group of new exhibitors included area residents who entered handicrafts in a Special Achievement category for people with disabilities, she said.