Veggie growers pray for rain

By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

Though they are only 11 and 9, sisters Aubrey and Kalea Craig of Florence are no strangers to the Marion County Fair. Each has competed in different events in years past.

“I mainly compete in quilting,” Aubrey said.

“I do all the horse showmanship events,” Kalea said.

However, this is the first year both girls will compete in the vegetable category.

“We have a big garden,” Aubrey said.

“It is half the size of this building,” Kalea said.

“It is 150 by 50 feet,” their mother, Natasha Craig, said.

Audrey and Kalea have helped their mother in the garden before, but this year they were responsible for their own produce.

“It is a lot of work,” Aubrey said. “We had to plant the seeds and pull weeds.”

“We water them too, except for when it rains,” Kalea said.

Both get excited when it rains because it sometimes means that they have fewer chores.