Baby blues

Blue Ribbon Baby Contest returns to Kossuth Co. Fair

By HANS MADSEN

ALGONA -- There really aren't that many building projects, home-grown root vegetables or animals that can't be entered in one of the classes at the Kossuth County Fair.

This year, babies were added to that list.

Caroline Van Dine, of Wesley, entered her daughter Bea, 5 months old, in the "Chunkiest" category hoping to win it in the Blue Ribbon Baby Contest.

Before the judging, Van Dine was confident.

"She's got rolls," she said. "I put her in a butter onesie."

It was, of course, just for fun.

"I'm taking a very friendly approach," she said. "We're here to have fun. It's a little early to be giving her a pageant complex."

Morgan Wagner, of Whittemore, a member of the Kossuth County Fair Board, who describes herself as an "old 4-H'er that just couldn't leave," organized the event.

"We're bringing something back," Wagner said. "They used to have this years ago."

There are perhaps a few "issues" to address in the future, such as, how does she know for sure that the baby that contestants brought to the competition is actually their baby and not a borrowed one.

"We didn't think about that," she said. "We're watching for any funny business."

Van Dine had her answer ready in case anyone asked for any documents.

"I didn't bring anything," she said. "We look very similar."

Objective judging is another issue, not that any of the babies attempted to bribe any of the judges. But one never knows when a can of formula might find its way out of one diaper bag into another -- the "Chunkiest" being a case in point.

"We will be doing a visual," she said. "Next year, we have something ordered to get an accurate measurement."

Among the various categories, one was taken off the table immediately during the planning stages. That was the "Ugliest Baby" category.

"We maybe talked about that," she said. "It was quickly shot down."

Lauren Gibney, of Algona, entered her son Jacob, 17 months, in the "Toddler Trot."

Unfortunately, he did not win.

"I hope he runs in the right direction," Gibney said.

He didn't, it cost him precious seconds.

He did prepare though.

"We run around the kitchen island," she said.

Zac Mann, of Algona, entered his daughter Claire, 4 months, in the Chunkiest category.

There was no special diet or "roll-building" supplements involved.

"She just eats a lot," Mann said.

As the actual competition got under way, Wagner demonstrated that you can't, in fact, take the 4-H out of the 4-H kids even when they're an adult on the fair board.

"You can bring your entries to the front," she said.