Aug. 6 deadline for Polly Berg floral arrangement contest

As a member of the Winnebago County Board, Polly Berg (pictured) was a tireless advocate for conservation, leading the board to designate no-mow areas to preserve natural prairie wildflowers and grasses. (Photos provided)

By Sylvia Pagel

All amateur floral designers are invited to compete for the annual Polly Berg Memorial Award at the Winnebago County Fair, Aug. 16-21. The best floral arrangement using roadside wildflowers and foliage will receive a plaque, $25, and a commemorative stoneware crock created by Wyoming artist Alicia Hanck.

There are three classes in the Floriculture Department that can qualify for consideration. Deadline to enter is Aug. 6, and the fee for each entry is 70 cents per class.

Entry forms are in the fair books placed at many local businesses and agencies. You can ask for a book by calling the Fair Office at (815) 239-1641, and the book is published on the website http://winnebagocountyfair.com.

As a member of the Winnebago County Board, Polly Berg was a tireless advocate for conservation, leading the board to designate no-mow areas to preserve natural prairie wildflowers and grasses.

Now they are being mowed again (the annual patronage “make-work” program) which makes it challenging to find roadside flowers at Fair time. Polly Berg worked to eliminate the unnecessary destruction of habitat and the perpetual waste of tax dollars.

Few areas still support prairie flowers or rare native species, providing an ecosystem for birds, butterflies and small animals. This award has been established as a reminder that her work for this cause is still ongoing. For more information: http://ejpagel.exactpages.com/poly.htm.

From the Aug. 3-9, 2011, issue