(Posted June 10, 2017)
Open class, Grange, and Art Hall contests are a great way for adults and children to take an active part in the Madison County Fair. Possibilities run from baked goods and crop specimens to ceramics, photography and duct tape art.
This year’s fair takes place July 8-15. Exhibits and fees for open class, Grange, and art contests must be dropped off at the Grange Hall between 9 and 11:30 a.m. July 8. Pre-registration is not required. Entry forms will be available on-site. The cost per entry is $2.
Exhibitors can enter as many categories or as many items in a class they want. All exhibits must be the work of the entrants. All exhibitors must purchase a season pass or daily admission ticket; Junior Fair pass holders and senior citizens are exempt.
Judging starts at noon July 8. Entrants need not be present for the judging. All entries must be delivered in disposable containers. No refrigeration is available. Most entries will remain on display throughout fair week. Entrants can pick up their exhibits between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. July 16.
Categories include:
- Open Class Baked Goods and Candies—Homemade yeast, homemade quick breads, homemade cookies, junior homemade baking (15 years and younger), homemade cakes (no box mixes), decorated cake (be creative), commercial mixes, homemade pies (no cream or custard), homemade candies
- Open Class Canned Goods—Canned foods and miscellaneous fruit, fruit butter, jellies and preserves, pickles and relish, miscellaneous canned, miscellaneous preservation
- Open Class Horticulture—Potatoes, root vegetables, miscellaneous, fruit
- Open Class Antiques—Antiques, kitchen tools, antique collections
- Open Class Ceramics—Amateur/student/pleasure, junior ceramics (9 and younger), junior ceramics (ages 10-15)
- Open Class Needleworks, Crafts and Hobbies—Afghans, crochet and knitting, embroidery, counted cross stitch, latchhook, hand quilting, machine quilting, sewing clothing, fabric painting, miscellaneous needlework and sewing, junior needlework and sewing (ages 12 and younger), junior hobby/craft/jewelry/beadwork (ages 12 and younger), holiday and special occasion, scrapbooking, basketry, miscellaneous hobbies and crafts, models, woodworking, gift wrapping, collections, open class senior citizens hobbies and crafts
- Open Class Fine Arts—Amateur, grades 9-12, grade 6-8, grade 3-5, grade 2 and under for oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolor, pencil and mixed media; open class photography; professional photography, amateur photography, junior photography (12 and younger), teen photography (ages 13-18), professional special and digital effects, amateur special and digital effects, teen special and digital effects (ages 13-18), junior special and digital effects (ages 12 and younger)
- Open Class Farm Crop Show—Winter wheat, oats, soybeans, shelled corn, miscellaneous grain crops, plant materials (soybeans, shelled corn, grains), silages and hay.
- Open Class Challenges—Duct tape creation (theme: favorite fair food), LEGO creation (theme: favorite fair memory), paper maché creation (theme: favorite farm animal), cake decorating (theme: ugly/gross cake), wreath creation (theme: American flare).
For rules and the full breakdown by category, go to www.madisoncountyfairoh.com/. Entry forms can be printed from the website or filled out on-site at the time of entry drop-off. Direct questions to Dave Monnin, (614) 361-9605, or Amy Nichols, (614) 837-0134.
Evenings at the Grange Hall
During Madison County Fair week, evenings at the Grange Hall will be hopping with an assortment of special contests open to all ages. The food-themed fun includes:
Monday, July 10—Chili Cookoff
Tuesday, July 11—Pie of the Day (your choice)
Wednesday, July 12—Salsa Sensations
Thursday, July 13—Fidget Spinners
The cost to enter is $2. Entries must be dropped off at 6 p.m. the night of the contest. Judging starts at 6:30, after which the public is invited to sample the entries. Prizes will go to winners in adult and youth categories.
Also planned is a photography contest, “Favorite Fair Photo,” set for Friday, July 14. Photos must be taken at the 2017 fair and posted to Instagram, tagged as “#madisoncojfb.” A prize will go to the winner.
For more information, go to www.madisoncountyfairoh.com/.
