NASHVILLE-The Clay County Fair and some of its exhibits won several awards at the annual Tennessee Association of Fairs convention here earlier this year.

The fair and its exhibits won a handful of awards at the convention, held in January.

PHOTO ABOVE RIGHT – AT THE CONVENTION-Several Clay Countians, including Clay County Fairest of the Fair Emily Mahaney (center) attended the Tennessee Association of Fairs annual convention in Nashville in January. Among those attending from Clay County were (l-r) Payton Killman, Dorothy Webb, Lois Turner, Mahaney, Randall Killman, Mahaney’s mother Cindy Brown, Dorothy Forney and Dean Walden. Also attending, but not pictured was Shela Long, Dr. Roberto Mauricio, Bill Donaldson, Joey Locke, Ronnie Shoemake, Cheryl Smith, Beverly Sutton, Brandi Bozarth and Ann Gaw. (Photo submitted) 

The fair received a Merit Award for its participation in agriculture-related projects, and Clay County entries also won three other awards in the statewide competition. 

A T-shirt designed by Clay County Fairest of the Fair Emily Mahaney won second place statewide in its category (see photo), while a pair of quilt entries were also recognized for their excellence.

Hazel Willis’ machine-quilted entry won first place statewide (see photo), while a hand-pieced entry by Genie Smith took third-place statewide. 

Fair officials also last week announced the 2009 fair dates and dates for the Fairest of the Fair beauty pageant (see related story).

WINNING DESIGN-Clay County Fairest of the Fair Emily Mahaney designed a T-shirt which won second place statewide in its category at the Tennessee Association of Fairs convention earlier this year. Shown here with the second-place entry from Clay County are (l-r) Shela Long, a member of the Fairground Women's Building committee, Mahaney and Dean Walden, Fair Board member and coordinator of fair events at the Women's Building. (Photo submitted)

FIRST PLACE-Winning first place statewide in the "machine-quilted" quilt division at the Tennessee Association of Fairs convention in January was Hazel Willis of Clay County. (Photo submitted)