VGMS and the 2017 Ventura County Fair

Held about five months after our own VGMS Gem Show and midway between the Oxnard and Conejo shows, the Ventura County Fair provides another opportunity for our members to show off their gems, minerals and jewelry, but this time with the additional excitement of competition. The Fair runs for 12 days and sees about 300,000 visitors. Our own Diane Cook is the Superintendent of the Gem and Mineral and Hobbies, Models, and Collectibles building. She relies on her staff and many volunteers before, during, and after the fair to make this a fulfilling event for all. But it wouldn’t be anything without the exhibitors. The VGMS and our two neighboring gem clubs participate and compete fiercely amongst ourselves, assuring a strong presence at the Fair.

Here is a list of awards VGMS members won in Gems and Minerals in 2017, which encompasses mineral and fossil collecting, jewelry making and lapidary arts. First are the ribbons (blue=1st, red=2nd, white=3rd, pink=4th), followed by additional awards.

Raul Barazza: 1 blue (Pebble Pup case)
Nancy Bogart:1 blue
Frank Boulch:2 blue, 1 pink, Fair Theme ribbon
Jim Brace-Thompson: 11 blue, 4 red, 3 white, 2 pink, Best Fossil Case, Judge’s Choice (2), Staff Favorite
Nancy Brace-Thompson: 2 red, 2 white, 1 pink
Angela Brown: 3 blue, 3 red, 1 white
Luther Brown: 1 blue, 1 red, Judge’s Choice
Diane Cook: Unable to compete, but her non-competitive exhibit won Director’s Choice anyway! Also, Staff Favorite for opal gem tree.
John Cook: 2 blue, 7 red, 4 white, 1 pink, Best Lapidary Case
Kathryn Davis: 4 blue, 2 red, 1 white, 3 pink, Superintendent’s Favorite, Judge’s Choice
Mike Havstad: 5 blue, 1 red, 1 pink, Best Single Mineral
Lucia Hetrick: 2 blue, Best Novice Case
Shirley Layton: 1 blue
Gary Leberknight: 1 red, 1 white, 1 pink
David Mautz: 4 blue, 6 red, 2 white, 3 pink, Best Single Fossil
Jared McGowan: 1 red, 1 white, 2 pink, Judge’s Choice
Jeff Miller: 2 blue, Best Mineral Case, Director’s Choice
Adrian Ruiz: 1 red, 1 white, 1 pink
David Springer: 2 blue, 4 red, 4 white
Miriam Tetreault: 4 blue, 1 red, 1 white
VGMS: 2 blue, 1 white, Judge’s Choice, Staff Favorite
Phyllis White: 3 blue
Terry Wilson: 5 blue, 3 red, 1 white, 1 pink, Judge’s Choice, Best Jewelry Case
Ron Wise: 7 blue, 6 red, 1 white, 1 pink, Best Single Lapidary, Judge’s Choice (2), Staff Favorite

It takes a lot of people to pull off a county fair. VGMS members filled these important roles:

Staff:
Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson
Angela Brown
John Cook
Krishna Juarez
Shirley Layton
Adrian Ruiz

Demonstrators:
Sandra Butchko
John Cook
Laura Driskell
David Mautz
Dick White
Phyllis White
Ron Wise

Setup, Intake, Judging & Take Down:
Andy Anderson
Raul Barazza
Angela Brown
Luther Brown
Laura Driskell
Jeff Geist
Shirley Layton
Adrian Ruiz
Dick & Phyllis White
Ron Wise

Floor Walkers:
Stuart Bloom
Nancy Bogart
Jim & Nancy Brace-Thompson
Luther Brown
Kathryn Davis
Laura Driskell
Austyn Frisk
Adrian Ruiz
Richard Slyker
Miriam Tetreault
Dick & Phyllis White
Terry Wilson
Ron Wise