I’m a big fan of the Pima County Fair, not just because I enjoy carnival rides, incarnations of 70’s rock bands, hypnotists, and fried food items, but also for the competition side. I’m generally frightened by animals, so I skip out on the 4H style stuff, but every year, I head over to the Home and Fine Arts competition area and see what’s happening in the worlds of pickling, table decorating, and woodworking. It’s just a fun time for the entire family, and since someone clearly put a lot of time into these products, I feel like I could take a few minutes to check their wares out.
However, this year, I’ve decided to watch from the sidelines no longer. This year, I’m going to take on these feats of creativity, cookery and design myself. However, I don’t want to just participate. I want to dominate.
So, in that spirit, since Michael Phelps set out to win eight gold medals at the Bejing Olympics, I want to win eight ribbons at the 2012 Pima County Fair, scheduled for April 19-29. I know that I’m not going to get anywhere in the Fine Art categories, since I have no skill in the visual art realm whatsoever, but there are a number of options in the Home Arts field [pdf]. Here are the categories I know I will be entering:
1: Lot 680. Table Decorating
This one will be tough. There were some intense table settings up last year, including this paint-themed one.
- Dan Gibson
- From the 2011 Pima County Fair
2: Lot 400. Fresh salsa
I’ll probably get killed in this contest, but I’ve actually made salsa before, which is a head start I don’t have in many of these categories.
3: Lot 413. Biscuits, 4
I just want to make Sir Mix-A-Lot proud.
4: Lot 447. Brownies, 5
I like brownies and I’m pretty sure I’ve made them from scratch at least once.
5: Lot 505. Pickles
I make great spicy Asian pickles. I might actually have a chance at winning in this category, although who knows? The judging’s all political, anyway.
6: Lot 647. Decorated Shoe; School colors and theme
I feel like if I’m going to enter eight categories, I should probably participate in one of the five competitions dedicated to decorating shoes and/or boots.
That leaves two categories to enter, including opportunities to make scrapbook pages, holiday tree ornaments, cookies, cakes, pies, etc. Any suggestions? Keep in mind, anything that requires sewing or anything that requires acquired skill, I’m probably out. However, anything I can learn before March is totally fair game. I’ll thank anyone who provides useful information in my victory speech. They let ribbon winners give speeches, right?
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2011.
Well Dan, having judged on many fairs, mostly in the 4-H and FFA divisions, here are a few observations from the judging side: considering there will be massive amounts of chocolate and overly sweet goodies, judges’ tastebuds go numb after a while. I mean, how many bites, even if tiny, can you take before your whole system rebels? So, when a cookie or bar that used apricot, lemon or other tart ingredients hits, wow, judges come back to attention and give that entry a second look. Meaning – make your entry also look really nice and you’ve got a good chance among the dozens of cookies.
Salsa: well, you are right, the Hispanic entrants might have the advantage, but I make a mean salsa with 95% fresh ingredients and very little cooked tomato sauce, and while I didn’t enter for ribbons, I noticed that my salsa usually was the first dish to be empty and people asking around who made it. So, look what the majority enters and be different.
As to other categories you are contemplating, consider the THEME – in 2012 it’s the 100th Anni. Of Tucson Statehood. Do something that reflects on that, but a bit unusual.
Decorate a light bulb? Depending who the judges are no matter what you enter and how well done, you might find your stuff out of ribbon reach. Now, you, with newspaper connections might find out beforehand who the Fair folks ask to be a judge and can possibly adjust your entry. Check out what kind of art they like. I mean, the gal who falls all over abstract art, probably is little impressed by delicate petals and reality. But then again, you never know.
How about decorating an apron? You probably can find all the things you need at a crafts store.
If you can stitch a bunch of pockets on it and then fill them with interesting displays – you might have a winner.
I can’t recall if they have floral and veggie entries, but if so, grow something – you’ve got plenty of time and enter that. Over the years, I’ve noticed that often there were few entries and even in big fairs, people won ribbons by default.
Here are the basics for everybody:
1) Follow the rules to a T no matter which category you enter.
If they ask for 5 pieces of fruit, they mean 5 pieces, but it also means that they have to be as close as possible to “market” standards – meaning: similar size, color, shape of all 5 fruits. If only one, then of course take your best looking one. Clean, no blemishes, not malformed, that kind of thing. Yet, I have seen ribbons got to mismatches and marred fruits and vegetables because there was not competition.
2) Cleanliness is important. If your art, or what ever you enter looks messy with stray glue, color, etc. it just has no chance because there are a lot of meticulous entries.
3) If you like your creations, even if you are not sure that they are up to the other entries, enter them anyway. First, you add more variety to the Fair, and second, some judges might also like your entry and you wind up with a ribbon.
And yes, Dan, I realize that you wrote your article to create interest, rather than actually compete. But then again, why not? Start practicing your hula swing and throw. By April, you just might be in great shape and can show those whippersnappers a thing or two.
Always DREAM BIG.
Margarete de Gaston
I’ve totally got you on the holiday ornaments. ping me on this!