MIDDLEBORO — The depth of Middleboro’s agricultural roots were on display Saturday, Aug. 24 in the form of picture-perfect potatoes, innovative floral arrangements, robust garden tomatoes and other items at the 66th annual South Middleboro Grange Fair. 

The fair is the biggest event of the year for the Grange, said Grange President Paula Goodwin. 

“It lets the community know that we are agricultural. We still care about farming, animals, 4H and all of that. That’s why we do this fair,” said Grange Treasurer Shawn Gaudette. 

At the event, participants bring in all sorts of goods, both agricultural and non-agricultural, to be judged. Contest winners are awarded ribbons and money prizes.

Awards are provided both by the local grange and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.  

Judged categories include fruits, vegetables, floral arrangements, baked goods, needlework, photography, canned goods and arts and crafts. 

Agricultural entries are evaluated based on criteria such as quantity, uniformity and appearance. 

The desire to keep agricultural institutions like the Grange alive drives Sue Mandeville to participate in the fair, she said. 

Mandeville, a florist by trade, won two state awards this year for the potatoes and one of the floral arrangements she entered. 

She is trying to do her part to “keep [the Grange] going,” because “the Grange is going passé and the new generation is not appreciating [it],” she noted. 

Mandeville loves the “old-fashioned” traditions that the Grange promotes, she said. “The new generation doesn’t have that.”

Lakeville resident Judy Roberts’ passion for baking resulted in her bringing home several awards for her entries in the baked goods category, including a Best in Show for her lemon coconut cake. 

What she enjoys most about baking, she said, is “the satisfaction. You start out with nothing, and you end up with something.”

Roberts divulged that a foolproof recipe is the secret to success. “The simple ones win,” she said.

Ten-year-old Sophie Nicholson took home Best in Show for her artistic rendering of a sunset. 

one of her favorite things to do, she said, because “it’s great to put all of your feelings” into your creation. 

All in all, the day resulted in “another fair well done with many, many hands doing the work,” according to Goodwin.