Beaches and barbecues are probably first and foremost on most minds, but not the minds of the members of the Troy Shrine Club.

Homer Homann, club president, is thinking about the Pike County Fair and he is early in urging everyone to make plans now to help make this year’s county fair a blast from the past.

With the ease of “gathering” corn, peas or peaches at the grocery store, home canning is fast becoming a thing of the past, Homann said.

Yesteryear, the exhibition shelves at county fairs were stacked and sagging with foods canned by friends and neighbors in hopes of taking home a blue ribbon.

The Troy Shrine Club would like to bring back those good ol’ days to this year’s Pike County Fair scheduled for Oct. 1-5.

Homann said now is the time for folks to start thinking about entering their canned goods and produce, crafts and more in the county fair.

“We have categories for all kinds of food items and produce – vegetables, fruits, relishes, jellies, jams, honey,” he said. “Canning jars must be half-pint, pint and quart in size. And we encourage people to bring in their food crops – squash, pecans, tomatoes, whatever.”

Homann said that cakes, pies, candies and breads are also exhibited food items that have ribbons attached to them.

“We award prize money along with the ribbons,” he said. “In the food preservation category, first place brings $5, second place, $3 and third place, $2. In the baked foods, the prize money is a little more. Ten dollars for first place, $7 for second place and $5 for third place.

“We also have a junior division in the food preservation and baked good division and the prize money is the same,” he said.

Homann said the prize money will put a little jingle in the winners’ pockets and also give them something to boast about.

Now is the time for Pike Countians to start thinking about exhibiting at the Pike County Fair in October. And, there is a category for every interest.

“We have needlework, photography, crafts, painting and woodworking categories, to name a few,” Homann said. “We are proud of the animals and fowl on display in our cattle barn. So, we do have something for everyone.”

Homann said the 2013 Pike County Fair, as always, will have a “fun and exciting” midway and great entertainment at the pavilion.