FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JULY 1, 2019
CONTACT:
John Buettner, competitive exhibits director
N.C. State Fair
919-839-4513
2019 N.C. State Fair general competition entries open
RALEIGH – Looking to show off your hidden talents? At this year’s fair, you can compete in everything from arts and photography to decorated cakes, or even try rubber chicken flinging. There are competitions for all ages.
Competition favorites returning this year are the Great Pumpkin/Watermelon weigh-off, decorated cakes, flowers and gardens and many more. Information on each category is listed in the online premium book. “More than 35,000 exhibits are entered into the fair each year,” said John Buettner, competitive exhibits director. “The fair offers hundreds of categories and, we encourage fairgoers of all ages to look through the online premium book to see if your favorite craft, produce, artwork or skill is blue-ribbon worthy.”
Below are a few highlights on new competitions for the 2019 N.C. State Fair.
The Culinary Department will offer a miniature decorated cakes competition in both professional and non-professional divisions. The cakes are limited to 4 inch round or square with decorations bringing the total dimension to 6 inches wide and no more than 10 inches tall. Any style of decoration is allowed. Decorators can choose buttercream frosting, fondant icing, or royal icing.
The Handicrafts and Hobbies Department has added a decorated socks category. “This year we are launching the “decorated item” theme with socks crafted by children but in the future, it will include teens and adults. It will also alternate from items such as decorated hats, decorated shoes, etc.” Buettner said.
A brand new special cooking contest this year will add soy – “The Cool Bean.” Contestants will be asked to create their best edamame (soybean) or tofu dishes for the judges.
Also new this year is the State Fair coloring book pages. For this category, competitors can enter pages they have printed (artwork can be found on the website) and colored. “Contestants can choose from five pages ranging from highly detailed to very simple and anyone can enter,” Buettner said. There are five different age groups, Adult (18 and older), Teen (13 - 17), Child (6 -12), Special Needs (any age), Group Home (any age). This competition is limited to only the pages provided by the State Fair. Anyone can enter as many pages as they want, but they can only win once. Display space is limited.
The 2019 State Fair Premium Book is now available at
www.ncstatefair.org.
The premium book contains entry forms, deadlines, rules and judging criteria for every contest offered at this year’s fair. Listings are broken into three categories: general, horse and livestock entries. Those without Internet access can contact the entry department at 919-839-4515 for assistance.
Online and paper entry registration forms are now being accepted in general entry categories. Livestock will begin Aug. 1. Paper entry forms must be submitted by 5 p.m., and online registration forms must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 15. The Special Cooking Contests will accept entries until Oct. 1. These dates can be found in the 2019 State Fair Premium Book online.
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