Sign Up Now for New York State Fair Competitions

From the New York State Fair:

Online registration has begun for the scores of competitions that take place at the Great New York State Fair, Acting Director Troy Waffner said today.  

 

Last year, more than 4,500 exhibitors submitted more than 22,000 entries to one of 49 competition categories. 

 

"There's something for everyone in our competitions," Waffner said. "Some of these are as old as the fair itself and carry forward our state's proud agricultural heritage. Others are more modern. I encourage everyone to check our list of competitions and take part in them."

 

Most fairgoers are familiar with the fair's animal competitions, from the daily horse shows in the Toyota Coliseum to the judging events involving cattle, goats, swine, poultry, rabbits and more. They are also likely to have seen the flower and table setting competitions in the Horticulture Building, or the talent competition on the fair's west end stage.  

 

There are also the professional competitions for wines, dairy products, and Christmas trees.

 

Less well known are the fair's competitions in culinary arts, amateur winemaking and fine arts. The fair also holds some offbeat competitions, such as the daily rooster crowing contest, the Bucket of Junk competition that challenges contestants to turn a collection of parts into something useful, and the poetry competition, which culminates with a public reading of winning poems.

 

To learn more about fair competitions, or to enter, visit http://nysfair.ny.gov/competitions/how-to-enter.

 

This year's New York State Fair, operated by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from Aug. 25 to Sept. 5, 2016.

Get Ready Now for New York State Fair Competitions

News from the New York State Fair:

  Did you know that the Great New York State Fair runs an annual competition for antique automobiles and tractors, and another for pigeons, and a third for carving watermelons?  

They are among the scores of competitions that will take place during the 2014 Fair.  Registration is now underway for most competitions.

Most competitions are true to the Fair’s agricultural roots and mandate, such as the competitions for horses and livestock, flower arranging, and dairy products.  However, others encompass the arts.  

The annual fine arts competition, which occupies the entire second floor of the Art & Home Center, is one example, and the daily talent competition on the Talent Showcase stage is another.  In 2013, more than 6,000 people submitted about 28,000 entries in 275 categories.

Among the new competitions this year is one called “Bucket of Junk.” Teams of competitors must make an identifiable object using only the odds and ends in their buckets.  The items in each bucket are identical.  Also new this year is a watermelon carving event, in which people try to make the best design they can from the watermelon and various pieces of fruit that they bring from home.  Each competition happens on just one day, and each is limited to 10 participants.

Any New York state resident can enter a New York State Fair competition and you do not have to win a local competition in order to compete.  Some competition winners earn a share of more than $200,000 in cash prizes.  Others receive medals or ribbons.  Daily winners of the culinary competition have their creations sampled on live television.  

Some deadlines for entries are approaching.  Competition rules, deadlines, and entry forms can be found on the New York State Fair website, located at www.nysfair.org/competitions.  Most entry forms can be filled out and submitted online.  However, competitors who prefer printed information can have it sent through the mail by calling the State Fair at 487-7711, extension 1337.