"She moved a lot," Ms. Spencer said of her little sister.

Ms. Spencer, who is 49 and black, and the mother of two daughters, moved to the community in 1986.

Ms. Spencer said that any criminal element was the exception.

Ms. Spencer too worried about putting a contemporary spin on her character.

Ms. Spencer said a farmer's pride in his work buildings was obvious everywhere she went.

Ms. Spencer, whose quilt was selected from 1,200 entries, received a check for $7,500.

Ms. Spencer returned a few minutes later, triumphant after having met her crush.

Ms. Spencer said employees would receive two weeks' pay plus an additional week's pay for every year they had worked at the company.

Ms. Spencer could not say what impact, if any, the violations would have on the grant.

Without the pressure of the new rules, Ms. Spencer said, she would never have found a job.