Participating in Ye Olde Grant County Faire

PHOTOS: 1. Society of Creative Anachronism member Jay Runnion works at making soapstone bowls outside the organization's building Wednesday afternoon at the Grant County Fair.<br>2. Society of Creative Anachronism member Jay Runnion discusses organization information with some interested fairgoers Wednesday afternoon at the Grant County Fair.

by Matthew Weaver<br>Herald Staff Writer
| August 19, 2004 9:00 PM

Society of Creative Anachronism researches, recreates history

Walking along the 2004 Grant County Fair, one might be surprised to see Jay Runnion.

Runnion, seated outside the building for the Society of Creative Anachronism, was making bowls out of soapstone and dressed in historical garb.

"I found out that in the period, at the quarry, they shaped them there," he explained in persona as Lordship Jay DeLille. "I found out my average two-quart bowl starts out at 45 pounds, and the record so far I've got them down to is about 11 pounds. So I'd much rather carry home an 11-pound bowl than a 50-pound bowl."

Runnion is a member of the SCA, which has a local branch in Grant County called the Shire of Ambergard.

"It is our hobby to recreate and research the Middle Ages and Renaissance period of history," explained group president Bambi Libby. Her persona is Mistress Olivia Visconti.

Libby said the group has been in the county for about 10 to 15 years in a small group.

"It has recently grown enough to where we can get out and show people what we do," she said.

Libby said the group has about 10 strong participators, and about 15 who come when they can.

The group has been at the fair for at least five to six years, she said.

"We started with just one table and have built into our own building now," she said.

The group also participates in Ephrata Sage and Sun, and has a feast, its Harvest Celebration, in Ephrata in October and an Oasis War in Oasis Park in the spring.

"Last year we had over 70 fighters in the field," Libby said.

The difference between the SCA and a Renaissance festival is that the festivals have paid actors, Libby said.

"We choose a period of time we want to research and we build our own persona to play," she explained.

Runnion has been playing off and on for about 12 years, he said.

"I like working with my hands," he explained. His interests include macrame and carving, and involvement in the group helps him do that more. "I'm not a fighter, I'm too old and crippled up to be doing things like that. So it's a good way to enhance your hobbies. The society's big thing is research, and trying to live the period."

Libby said she got interested in 1983 through some friends who were into gaming.

"It's something I've always enjoyed, with the chivalry and beauty of this period of time," she said.

Libby said a lot of people are interested in finding out more about the group because of the costumes and the heavy and rapier fighting involved. There will be fighting demonstrations 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and at 2 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Libby said.

Further information on the local SCA branch can be obtained at http://ambergard.antir.com/