Brown County Fair open class rules, categories

By
Staff Reports
-

Deadlines for Open Class entries at this year’s Brown County Fair are quickly approaching.

Non-perishables are due Friday, July 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. Late entries will be accepted on Saturday, July 23 from 9 to 10 a.m.

Perishables are due Saturday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.

All exhibits are to be checked in at the Exhibit Building at the Brown County Fairgrounds, 802 Memorial Drive.

Open Class entry is open to all residents of Brown County or members of a Brown County organization with no limitation on age.

Culinary Arts

Food Preparation

Recipe required – printed or typewritten on a card

Category I: Cakes: frosted or unfrosted

Class:

  1. White
  2. Chocolate
  3. Other
  4. Cupcakes

Category II: Cookies (iced or un-iced)

Class:

  1. Six drop
  2. six bar
  3. six rolled or shaped
  4. Six miscellaneous (other than above)

Category III: Brownies (6)

Category IV: Yeast Breads

Class:

  1. White – one loaf
  2. Whole wheat – one loaf
  3. Dinner rolls – six any shape
  4. Sweet rolls – six any shape

Category V: Quick Bread

Class:

  1. Fruit loaf
  2. Veggie loaf
  3. Cornbread or Muffins
  4. Other than above, includes biscuits, turnovers & scones
  5. Coffee Cakes

Category VI: Decorated Cakes

Cake form or real cake

Exhibit must remain at fair ALL week

Class:

  1. Special Occasion
  2. Cupcakes (3)

Category VII: Candy

Class:

  1. Fudge – six pieces
  2. Mints – six pieces
  3. Nut brittle – six pieces
  4. Caramels – six pieces
  5. Miscellaneous – six pieces other than types listed above 1 – 4.

Category VIII: Healthy Food – Dietary Restrictions

(Emphasis on reduced sugar and/or fat and/or increased fiber, and/or gluten free)

Category IX: Pies

Class:

  1. Apple
  2. Berry
  3. Cherry
  4. Other Fruit (fresh or dried)
  5. Nut

Food Preservation

Canning

Category I: Fruit

Category II: Vegetables (including tomatoes)

Category III: Juices, sauces & salsas

Category IV: Pickles

Category V: Relishes

Category VI: Jams, Marmalades, Butters, or Preserves

Category VII: Jellies

Dehydrated Foods

Must be exhibited in sandwich size zip lock bag.

Category VIII:

Class:

  1. Fruit
  2. Vegetables
  3. Herbs
  4. Miscellaneous

Syrups & Honey

Category IX:

Class:

  1. Maple syrup
  2. Honey
  3. Sorghum Molasses

Decorative Arts

Any number of items may be entered in any category providing different techniques are used.

Category I: Christmas at the Fair

Class:

  1. Door, Window or Wall Decoration (not a wreath)
  2. Tree Skirt or Tree Topper
  3. Christmas Wreath
  4. Christmas ornament or set of ornaments
  5. Christmas Quilts

Category II: Creative Crafts

Class:

  1. Handmade Toys
  2. Weaving, Hand Spun, Dying
  3. Tole or Folk Art Article
  4. Basketry
  5. Handmade Card (One per exhibit)
  6. Giftwrapping
  7. Diamond Art
  8. Miscellaneous

Category III: Leathercraft

Category IV: Dried or Silk Flowers

Category V: Scrapbooking

  • Any number of scrapbooks may be entered providing they are different subjects.
  • Judging will include creativity, neatness, documentation or labeling (names, dates, places, etc.)

Category VI: Recyclables

Class:

  1. Fabrics
  2. Wood / Glass
  3. Paper / Plastic
  4. Miscellaneous

Category VII: Coloring Pages

Class:

  1. Age 12 & Under
  2. Age 13 – 18 years
  3. Age 19 years and up

All exhibits must be framed for display.

Only three entries per exhibitor.

Collections

  • No more than three exhibits of collections may be entered by an individual.
  • Exhibit must be presented securely or on or in a container conductive to making a good showing. The exhibit will be judged on presentation and content.
  • An index card must be included with a description of the collection and its origin.
  • A collection is three to 10 items only. Examples: spoons, stamps, marbles, buttons, antique toys, figurines, etc.

Fine Arts

  • Any number of items may be entered in any category providing different techniques are used.
  • Artwork intended to hang must be framed for hanging using wrap around canvas on wooden frame.

Category I: Paintings — oil, acrylics, synthetics and airbrush

Category II: Watercolor

Category III: Drawings — charcoal, pastel, pencil and ink

Category IV: Computer art/digital art

Category V: Mixed media

Category VI: Sculpture/metal

Category VII: Ceramics/pottery

Category VIII: Woodworking

Category IX: Glass — stained glass and other handcrafted glass objects

Category X: Jewelry

Floriculture

Category I: Zinnia

Category II: Marigold

Category III: Rose

Category IV: Sunflower

Class:

  1. One bloom, any color, under 6 inches diameter
  2. One bloom, any color, over 6 inches diameter

Category V: Miscellaneous

Class:

  1. Any exhibit not listed in categories I-IV

Category VI: Potted plants *12 inch container max

Class:

  1. Foliage plant
  2. Vine plant
  3. Cactus and succulent
  4. Combination — one or more varieties in same container.

Category VII: Artistic design

Class:

  1. Sunshine and shadows
  2. Little bit 0’Irish
  3. Simple and sweet
  4. Over the Rainbow
  5. Kaleidoscope of color
  6. Country roads
  7. Coffee/tea arrangement

Gardening

Exhibitor may enter any number of different vegetables, fruits or herbs.

Exhibits will be judged on:

Category I: Vegetables

Class:

  1. One plate of three vegetables (same kind), six pods or one head. A vegetable over 5 inches can be displayed singly.
  2. Collection of six different vegetables plated together.

Category II: Fruits

Class:

  1. One plate of three or 10 on or off the vine.

Category III: Herbs

Class:

  1. Specimens – Two sprigs or two heads. Bring specimen in a disposable bottle.
  2. Potted Herbs – Single-potted herb or combination — two or more in a single container.

Needle Arts

Any number of items may be entered providing they are different.

Category I: Needlework

Class:

  1. Needlepoint — canvas
  2. Counted cross-stitch
  3. Embroidery — crewel, machine or hand
  4. Rugs
  5. Miscellaneous

Category II: Knitting

Class:

  1. Adult garment
  2. Accessories
  3. Infant and children
  4. Household
  5. Original design, no pattern

Category III: Crocheting

Class:

  1. Adult garment
  2. Accessories
  3. Infant and children
  4. Household

Category IV: Felting

Sewing

Any number of items may be entered in any category providing they are different types.

Category I: Sewing for self or others

Category II: Sewing for the home

Category III: Creative Sewing

Photography

  • All exhibits will be displayed in clear acid free protector sleeves (which will be provided at Check-In or in advance at the Extension Office at no cost to the exhibitor)
  • Exhibitors bring photos in their own sleeves, however, to provide uniform judging, they will be asked to place them in the type provided.
  • Photographs that are mounted, matted or framed will not be accepted.
  • All prints must be made from images not more than 2 years old. Only one entry may be made in each class. Photos previously entered for judging may not be entered again in Open Class.
  • Pictures not in good taste will be rejected.
  • All photos must be 5 x 7 or 8 x 10 inches.
  • Each entry should have the following on the back upper left corner: Name, address, title of exhibit, category, and class numbers.
  • No more than six photos will be accepted from one exhibitor.

Category I: Color

Class:

  1. Animals/insects
  2. Plants
  3. Portraits/people scenes
  4. Scenery
  5. Barns, bridges, buildings
  6. Miscellaneous (must not fit in class one through five)

Category II: Black and white

Class:

  1. Animals/insects
  2. Plants
  3. Portraits/people scenes
  4. Scenery
  5. Barns, bridges, buildings
  6. Miscellaneous (must not fit in class one through five)

Category 3 Photoshop

Class:

  1. Collage — Four or more pictures on 8×10
  2. Special effect — copy/paste, halo, etc.

Category IV: Sepia

Quilting

Category I: Pieced Quilting by hand

Class:

  1. Bed — Hand-pieced, hand-quilted
  2. Bed — Machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  3. Wall — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  4. Lap/baby — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  5. Hand applique — Pieced and quilted

Category II: Pieced quilting with long arm machine

Class:

  1. Bed — Hand-pieced, hand-quilted
  2. Bed — Machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  3. Wall — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  4. Lap/baby — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  5. Hand applique — Pieced and quilted

Category III: Pieced quilting with regular sewing machine

Class:

  1. Bed — Hand-pieced, hand-quilted
  2. Bed — Machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  3. Wall — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  4. Lap/baby — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  5. Hand applique — Pieced and quilted

Category IV: Applique quilting with long arm machine

Class:

  1. Bed — Hand-pieced, hand-quilted
  2. Bed — Machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  3. Wall — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  4. Lap/baby — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  5. Hand applique — Pieced and quilted

Category V: Applique quilting with regular machine

Class:

  1. Bed — Hand-pieced, hand-quilted
  2. Bed — Machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  3. Wall — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  4. Lap/baby — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  5. Hand applique — Pieced and quilted

Category VI: Mixed technique quilting

Class:

  1. Bed — Hand-pieced, hand-quilted
  2. Bed — Machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  3. Wall — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  4. Lap/baby — Hand- or machine-pieced, hand-quilted
  5. Hand applique — Pieced and quilted

Category VII: Other quilting

Category VIII: Patriotic quilts

V.I.P — Very Important People (people with special needs)

  • Any number of items may be entered, provided they are not the same product.
  • Please list age or limitation.

Category I: Arts and Crafts

Class:

  1. Christmas (any item)
  2. Creative crafts (any item)
  3. Woodworking (any item)
  4. Drawing and painting (any item)
  5. Coloring pages (max three)

Category II: Needlecrafts

Class:

  1. Needlework (any item)
  2. Quilting (any item)
  3. Knitting (any item)
  4. Crocheting (any item)

Category III: Miscellaneous

Pie Contest

Sponsored by Brown County Homemakers

  1. No cream, custard, pumpkin or meringue – topped pies will be accepted – even if they are in compliance with letter “F” below.
  2. Contestants can only enter three categories.
  3. No tarts may be entered in the pie contest.

A. Pies must be brought and registered in the Exhibit Building at the Fairgrounds on Tuesday, July 26 from 5 to 6:15 p.m.

B. Judging begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. Judging is open to the public.

C. All pie crust and filling must be made from scratch (no premade crust or filling)

D. The pie can be prepared in any pie pan, however homemakers are not responsible for the pans.

E. RECIPE REQUIRED on a card – name & address on the reverse side. If it’s an old family recipe you do not want to reveal, you MUST include ingredients. Recipes become the property of the Open Class Department with the right to use them in the future.

F. Food Safety Regulation: for submitting baked products – filling, frosting, glazing, pie filling and meringue – whether uncooked or cooked are NOT permitted to contain cream cheese, whipped cream, sour cream, unpasteurized milk or eggs/egg whites. Pasteurized eggs or eggs cooked to 160 degrees F before use may be used. Home-canned fruits, vegetables, or meats are not permitted in products.

G. Pies will be judged on general appearance, flavor, texture of crust, and texture of filling.

H. All pies will be judged accordingly:

  1. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places will be awarded in each category. Cash prized will be awarded in each category: $5 for 1st, $3 for 2nd, and $2 for 3rd.
  2. Champion and Reserve Champion pies will be selected overall and will receive prizes.
  3. All contestants will receive a ribbon.
  4. Winners will be announced immediately following judging.

I. Pies will become property of the Brown County Extension Homemakers, and after the contest, they will be sold be the slice or entire pie, plain or a la mode.

Only pies in the following Categories will be accepted.

(Chocolate may not be added to categories 1-4 or it will be judged under Category 5).

  1. Apple
  2. Cherry
  3. Other Fruit (fresh or dried)
  4. Nut
  5. Chocolate Combos
  6. Miscellaneous

For any questions regarding the pie contest, contact Janet Kramer at 812-988-7378.

General rules

There are no limits on the number of entries unless so designated in a department.

Entry tags are required on each entry to be exhibited. These will be available at check-in or in advance at the Brown County Purdue Extension office.

“Miscellaneous” is only for articles where there is no specific category for them. More than one entry can be made in “miscellaneous” provided they are different.

Entries must be completed or grown by the exhibitor as of Aug. 1, 2021.

The Danish system of judging (where a project is judged on its own merit by certain guidelines) will be used, and each placing will be determined by the judge according to the quality of the exhibits. Any number of first, second and third places may be awarded. No one will be allowed to watch the judging except those officially designated. All exhibits will be marked with a ribbon to designate the placing according to the official records. No monetary awards are given.

A Champion and Reserve Champion ribbon will be awarded from the blue ribbon winners in each section, provided there are at least three blue ribbons in the section. Honorable Mention ribbons will be awarded when merited.

Open Class is not responsible for lost or damaged exhibits.

Exhibits must be claimed on Sunday, July 31 between 2 and 4 p.m. Exhibits may not be removed between the time of official entry and release. Exhibits will not be released before Sunday at 2 p.m. Open Class is not responsible for exhibits left after Sunday, July 31.

An entry slip is used to list all of your entries. The white copy will stay in our records and the yellow copy will go home with you after check-in. You (or a designated pick-up person) must bring the yellow slip with you the day exhibits are released. Entry slips are available in advance at the Extension office or at check-in.

The Open Class county fair competition is separate from the state fair competition. If you choose to have an entry at the state fair level, you must enter yourself online by Friday, July 1. Your exhibit does not automatically advance to the state fair. For state fair information, go to https://exhibitorscorner.indianastatefair.com.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR