Cheesiness on a whole new level

The senior citizens’ cheese-themed hat contest at the Orange County Fair was really not a contest at all, but not for lack of judges, contestants or prizes.

Once the field of about a dozen seniors stepped onto the Main Mall Stage at the fairgrounds it was immediately clear who the winner would be. And it wasn’t even close.

In a field that showcased hats of all styles, from homemade to store-bought, patriotic to goofy, simple to elaborate, Cindy Rogers’ hat outshined the rest.

“Oh my God! That first-place hat touched on everything. It was a masterpiece. It was the busiest hat I think I’ve ever seen,” said Judy Wade, the ebullient emcee of the competition.

And she’s seen a few hats in her day. She has hosted the fair-themed hat contest for 18 years. To go along with this year’s theme, “Say Cheese,” contestants were asked to create hats that did just that. The winners received large novelty ribbons.

Rogers’ hat didn’t overlook a detail. On top of a red straw hat base Rogers and her peers at a senior living home in Whittier glued myriad clay sculptures. There were spotted cows, counters displaying cheesecake, cheese nachos and cheese pizza. There were even small sculpted clay people wearing clay cheese hats of their own.

The hat was topped off with a big yellow “Say Cheese” sign, leaving the judges with an easy decision.

“I picked it because of all the detail she had on there. It was the theme of the fair. It was so cheesy,” said one of the judges, Bill Hoop.

Rogers said she was proud to have won.

The other entries ranged from mundane to extravagant.

Seniors came with everything from a straw hat decked out with American flags and streamers, to a plain USC baseball cap, turned sideways presumably as a fashion statement.

The event was part of the fair’s Senior Day. Wade expects many of the participants and audience members present at the competition to return 2:30 p.m. Thursday for a renewal of vows ceremony celebrating couples who have been married more than 50 years.

ALAN BLANK may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or at alan.blank@latimes.com.