Linda Hyde holds the Canon-brand camera that belonged to her sister, Jill Peterson, and that Hyde is now using to honor her sister's memory through photography.
2. Although she works as a dental lab technician, Linda Hyde is using her deceased sister Jill
Peterson's camera to honor her sister's memory as a photographer.
Linda Hyde's first-place photography entry, taken with her sister Jill Peterson's camera, shows a
couple enjoying the Racine County Fair using a walking stick.
3. Inside the Racine County Fair exhibit hall for photography, Linda Hyde stands July 31 in front of
a special display in memory of her sister, Jill Peterson, who helped to organize the photo
competition during each county fair.
4. Linda Hyde proudly shows the blue ribbon she won July 29 at the Racine County Fair for
photography, besting more than a dozen experienced photographers.
RAYMOND — At this year’s Racine County Fair, Linda Hyde won a blue ribbon for something
bigger than baked goods from the kitchen or vegetables from the garden.
The Raymond woman delivered a winning county fair entry by connecting in a special way with
her late sister.
Her sister, Jill Peterson, was a photography buff who organized the open photo exhibition every
year at the county fair. Peterson died in April at age 54 just a few weeks after being diagnosed
with cancer.
As a tribute, Hyde used her fallen sister’s camera and — despite having no experience in
photography — took first place in a county fair photo competition.
“I was doing it for her, because she could no longer do it,” Hyde said. “I felt like I had to honor
Jill.”
The emotional moment July 29 touched those who knew Peterson and who felt her absence in
the place she loved — the photography exhibition hall on the county fairgrounds.
Carol Steilein, the county fair’s superintendent of open class competition, said it was a moving
experience.
To see Hyde using her sister’s camera and excelling in the same way that her sister had,
Steilein said, it was difficult not to feel Peterson’s presence in the room.
“I’m sure she was smiling down and guiding Linda to provide some inspiration,” Steilein said.
“She was there in spirit.”
Throughout the county fair, a special display inside the exhibition hall honored Peterson with
several pictures of her, as well as other remembrances, including a garment in her favorite lime