The Chickasaw Nation Community Gardens staff recently participated in the Pontotoc County Fair and was awarded several first place ribbons. Clockwise from left; Michael Stevens, Jimmy Coody, Bradley Sticky, Tami Poe, Thalia Miller, Patty Daniels, David Correll, Lucky Weems, Taylor Rice, Bobby Price, Jason Wallace, Ervin Walton and Amber Coplen.
A bounty of blue ribbons adorned colorful produce, flowers and crafts at the Chickasaw Community Gardens recently.
The ribbons- awarded to Community Gardens staff members at the Pontotoc County Free Fair -- are recognition for hard work and a job well-done.
Keeping with tradition, the staff submitted several entries to the county fair, said Thalia Miller, Community Garden Program Director. The fair was conducted September 1-3 in Ada, Okla.
For their hard work, the judges awarded the group a total of 11 blue ribbons, 4 red ribbons and 3 white ribbons for the individual entries.
The staff, which includes adults and five year-round youth workers, took peppers, watermelon, a flower arrangement, pumpkins, onions, tomatoes, a bird house, hand-crafted table, spring and summer honey, and green peas from the garden to the fair.
Pies, cakes and cookies were also entered into the competition.
For her second year participating in the fair, youth worker Taylor Rice baked a caramel pecan pie and entered it in the open class category.
On her very first attempt at making a pie last year, the 16-year-old took home a third place ribbon and a bounty of confidence.
"It was the first pie I ever made and I didn't realize how hard it was to make a pie crust. I thought ‘there is no way my pie is going to place' and it did. The judges told me if it would have cooked just a little longer, it would have been first place," Taylor said.
This year she used a store-bought crust, and earned a second place ribbon in the open class entries.
Her sights are now set on next year's competition.
"Next year I plan to make the same thing, but I will make the crust next year."
Taylor, an Ada High junior, said spending the hot summer tending to the Community Garden has taught her a lot about leadership.
A second year "year-round" worker, she now shows new summer youth workers the ins and outs of gardening.
She said the program also teaches vital life skills to Chickasaw youth.
"When I first started I didn't know how to sweep the floor."
Besides toiling in the garden, workers take turns preparing lunch on a daily basis.
Each student worker is assigned a task, including preparing the food and setting the table. They learn to cook, set the table, wash dishes, and plan meals.
"We also learn manners and more about our culture," Taylor added.
Her favorite part of her job is enjoying the fruits of her labor.
"I love picking a vegetable and eating it, knowing I grew it from seed."
When the growing season begins, vegetable deliveries are made to the area senior sites and various Chickasaw Nation fundraising functions, where food is served.
Area offices also receive thousands of tomato, squash and pepper plants which are donated to Chickasaw families.
The general public can purchase the vegetables and vegetable plants at the Ada Farmer's Market during the summer months. The market is located on 12th Street and is open Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Or, you can see the entries at next year's Pontotoc County Fair; they will likely be adorned with blue ribbons.
