Floriculture Department Beautiful Way To Show Creativity At Richland County Fair

Amid the rodeo, performances, booths, displays, and 4-H animals it can be easy to miss the other exhibits. In the commercial building on the far east side of the fairgrounds is Department B, Floriculture.

The floriculture department includes five different classes. Class 1 is for flowers and collections of flowers. Class 2 is for artistic design. Class 3 is for container plants. Class 4 is for yard art. Class 5 is for youth, ages 12 and under. All classes except Class 5 will award first prize with $5, second place with $4, and third place with $3. First place for Class 5 will win $3, second place will win $2, and third will win $1. More information can be found in the 2023 Richland County Fair and Rodeo Premium book or by contacting the fair office at 406-433-2801.

Mary Ann Danielson his been the floriculture department superintendent for 14 years. She was born and raised in Fairview and works as the clinic nurse at Richland County Health Department for most of those years. She started helping out at the fair with her mom in needlework for over 20 years. Then she moved to arts and crafts with her sister and helped her. After that she helped at Leeann's for a year in the arts and crafts. Next when Yvonne Swenson, the previous floriculture department superintendent was diagnosed with cancer and was unable to continue, Danielson moved over to floriculture and eventually became the department superintendent.

While helping her friend over the years she learned how to do the job. As superintendent of the floriculture department, Danielson does all the entries for floral and then sets them up for judging day and displays them for the rest of the fair for people to enjoy looking at the flowers. Her daughter, Lindsey, helps her during the fair as she had with her mother. Danielson said, "Get your entry forms in for all your pretty flowers. It's fun to see what everybody grows in their yards. It's not too hard."