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The first-ever Bucket of Junk Contest at the Oswego County Fair was a resounding success, drawing enthusiastic participation and creative flair from fairgoers of all ages.
Contestants were challenged to transform a bucket of miscellaneous “junk” into a unique 3-dimensional sculpture, showcasing their ingenuity and artistic vision.
Each sculpture was required to fit within a 24-inch by 24-inch footprint and reflect the fair’s 2025 theme, “Barn in the USA.” The results were nothing short of spectacular, with entries ranging from whimsical farm scenes to patriotic barnyard tributes. Volunteer judges, Gerhardt and Diane Brosch were captivated by the artistry on display: “We were mesmerized by the creativity and attention to detail in every entry. It was amazing to see how something as simple as a bucket of junk could be transformed into such meaningful and imaginative pieces.”
There were six divisions the entries were placed in: Individual Youth (12 years of age and younger), Individual Youth (13-18 years of age), More than 1 youth (mixed ages of youth) No adults, Family, Individual Adult and Group of Adults i.e. business, church, club. The following are the first-place winners for each division:
1. Individual Youth (12 years of age and younger): Vivian Larrabee
2. Individual Youth (13-18 years of age): Owen Larrabee
3. More than 1 youth (mixed ages of youth) No adults: Reese Grimes and Olivia LaRock
4. Family: LaFlamme Family
5. Individual Adult: Valerie Shaw
6. Group of Adults i.e. business, church, club: Creative Chaos - Jennifer King and Shawn LeFever
Reese Grimes and Olivia LaRock also earned the People’s Choice Award for their entry.
The contest not only highlighted the resourcefulness of the participants but also added a fun and imaginative twist to the fair’s lineup of events. Organizers are already looking forward to making this creative competition a staple of future fairs.
This year’s Bucket of Junk was coordinated by Oswego County 4-H Program on behalf of the Agriculture Society of Oswego County, with funding provided through a transportation grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Teresa Hollis, a member of the Oswego County Fair Board of Directors, expressed her appreciation for the overwhelming support: “We were thrilled to see so many people embrace the challenge with such creativity and enthusiasm. The community’s support made this event truly special, and we’re excited to see it grow in the years to come.
