Hempstead County Extension Homemaker Club member LaJuan Thompson shows off jars of her preserved fruits and vegetables that won fair ribbons

Assortment of ribbons LaJuan Thompson won at the Southwest Arkansas District Fair, including 82 first-place, 44 second place, and 44 third place ribbons

HOPE — In 1999, LaJuan Thompson submitted her first entries of canned and baked goods, sewing projects and horticulture items to the Hempstead County Fair. Since then, Thompson has won — by her count — “hundreds and hundreds” of blue ribbons at the local and district level, including 95 first-place awards at the 2025 Hempstead County Fair. WINNING GREEN-THUMB — LaJuan Thompson, 88, said she has won “hundreds and hundreds” of blue ribbons at her local and district fairs, including for horticultur

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