How to craft a winning fair entry

Jun 07, 2023

ELK CREEK — The Grayson Fair returns Aug. 11-12 and it’s never too early to start thinking about entering.

Fair competition categories include vegetables, baked and preserved goods, photography, art, flowers, plants, crafts, and quilts. Grayson LandCare has been sharing advice on submitting winning entries.

You do not need to be a resident of Grayson County to enter the fair.

Basic information for entering a successful exhibit is found in the “2023 General Competitions book,” as well as entry forms, can be located on the fair’s website, graysoncountyvafair/entry-regulations.com. Youth and adults are judged separately.

This is the sixth in series of articles on creating a successful entry, this time covering Arts & Crafts.

The basic rules for Crafts include:

• Articles entered must be the work of the person whose name they entered and must have been made or completed within the last year;

• Entries are judged on design, appearance, color, workmanship and suitability of materials. Well-known characters such as Batman, Snoopy, etc., may not be used due to copyright restrictions.

Crafts is a huge category which is divided into crafts and needle arts Crafts is then sub-divided into baskets, LEGOs, birdhouses, holiday decorations, jewelry, leather, weaving, woodworking and other. Needlecrafts include crochet, knitted, felted and other. Other includes embroidery, needlepoint and sewing.

Judging such a range of items is a challenge, but the criteria of design, appearance, color, workmanship and suitability of materials can be applied to all of these items. Things to consider:

• Is the design, creative, uncommon and appealing?

• Is the appearance neat, attractive and clean?

• Do the colors complement or enhance each other?

• Is the workmanship even, skillful and detailed?

• Are the materials suitable for the purpose of the object?

Quilts generally fall under needle arts, but fair organizers have created a separate “People’s Choice” quilt show. The public is invited to vote for their favorite adult and youth quilt.

Art categories include acrylic on any surface, oil on canvas, sketching and watercolor; as well as 3D objects including ceramics, pottery, sculpture and stained glass.

The saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” does come into play, but more specific criteria such as color harmony, design, skill and technique, originality, presentation and composition will be judged.

Bring your entries on Aug. 10 between 3-7 p.m. to Bottomley Evergreens & Farms, 10278 Elk Creek Parkway, Elk Creek, VA 24326.

If you are interested in entering the youth livestock show, contact Kevin Spurlin, Grayson County Extension Agent, at 276-773-2491 or [email protected].