This year, over 100 of the state’s finest tomatoes, spices, flowers and more were grown in Salem soil.

Salem gardeners took home 109 blue first-place ribbons in the Oregon State Fair’s Agriculture & Horticulture category, which includes gardening and beekeeping. Locals also took home 76 second-place awards and 41 third-place awards.

Among this year’s winners is Emma Black, age 5, who took home six first-place awards in the youth Farm & Garden category.

Emma is no stranger to victory. Last year, Salem Reporter shared her 10 first-place wins for gardening , and spoke with several other Salem gardeners who netted multiple first-place wins again this year.

Emma’s mom, Kristina Eidsmoe, said the wins took almost daily visits to tend their front yard garden, and their plot in the Santana

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