Friendly competitions and contests at the Kern County Fair

For those looking for a little friendly competition at the Kern County Fair, there are several categories for anyone interested in showing off their talents in competitive exhibitions.

All entries must be submitted online by Sept. 6.

Each competition category has its own fees, important dates, requirements and judging criteria to consider; information can be found on the Kern County Fair competitive exhibitions website. Each category also offers several divisions.

Go to the fair website for all the details.

Agriculture and horticulture

Agriculture and Horticulture offers several divisions: painted pumpkins, scarecrows, fruits, citrus fruits, subtropical fruit, dried fruits, pod vegetables, vine crops, leafy and stem vegetables, dried vegetables, large and unusual produce, eggs, honey, seeds, nuts and processed items. Each division also has various classes, such as the various citrus fruit classes.

There is also a category for commercial growers with divisions for nuts, root bulbs and tuber vegetables, grapes, fruits, Kern County processed products and processed items. An environmental exhibits competition is offered, too.

Decorative paintings and fine arts

For the Decorative Arts category, try your hand at a special painted chair contest or a chicken-themed painting contest, which is for artists to paint chickens on any surface besides a fruit or a vegetable.

For the Decorative Painting category, the divisions are broken into experience levels: novice, amateur and professional. Within those divisions, there are classes for types of paintings such as animals, floral and whimsical paintings. There is also a division for special needs adults for any type of painting type.

The Fine Arts category is broken down in a similar way with amateur, professional and special needs adult divisions. There are also several types of classes and an artist can submit one piece per class with up to six entries total. There is also a Fine Arts environmental competition.

Ceramics and dolls

The Dolls competition is broken into two divisions: dolls made by the exhibitor and doll dressing. The classes for doll making are then separated by the types of dolls made, whether that be materials or style of doll. Similarly, doll dressing is broken down into type of clothing or style.

The Ceramics competition is separated into three main categories: ceramic wheel work, ceramic original by hand and fired ceramic finish. Each of those categories are broken down into novice, amateur and professional divisions and then further broken into classes.

There is also a category for special needs adults for any type of ceramics.

Creative arts and crafts

For the Creative Arts and Crafts category, the divisions are broken into bead work, crafts, leather work, diamond painting, metalwork and wood crafts. Each division has different classes that can be found in the category’s book found on the fair’s website. For example, crafts include candles, decoupage and origami.

There is also a special needs adults competition for any of the creative arts and crafts. There is also an environmental exhibit competition.

Culinary arts

There are several types of culinary arts categories, including:

* KC the Bull’s Homemade Chili Contest

* Cake Mix Trix Contest

* Charcuterie Board Contest

* Grandma Cookies Contest

* Pulford Apple Pie Contest

* Fresh Salsa Contest

* Sunday Pie Contest

* Wednesday Pie Contest

* Chicken Pot Pie Contest

* Potato Salad Contest

* Homemade Ice Cream Contest

* Almost Homemade Contest

* Best Hot Wings Contest

* Carrot Cake Contest

* Homebrew Contest

* Baked Goods Contest

* Preserved Foods Contest

The Homebrew Contest is broken into amateur and professional brewing divisions with classes for different types of beers and spirits.

The Baked Goods Contest divisions are cakes, cookies and confections with several different classes. Breads, tortillas, biscuits and rolls are in the same division but are broken down into several classes.

In the Preserved Food Contest, the divisions are: canned fruits, canned vegetables, homemade sauces, pickles and relishes, jams, jellies, conserves and preserves and marmalades and butters.

Floriculture

The Cut Flower competition will be on two days — Sept. 18 and Sept. 24 – and the Fresh Flowers competition will be Sept. 24.

On Sept. 18, 22, and 26, the Plant Contest will feature several divisions: hanging baskets and topiary, potted plants, cactus and succulents and bonsais.

The Floriculture Contest is broken down into decorations that can be found in the garden and gourds. There is also a special needs adults contest.

There will also be contests for African Violets, best dressed tables and an environmental exhibition.

Gems and minerals

The Gems and Minerals contest is broken down into four divisions: jewelry, individual displays, group specimen collection display and group lapidary collection. Each division also have several classes.

Hobbies and models

For the Hobbies and Models contest, there are several divisions: two Lego divisions, collections, models, mini sculptures and author’s corner. Each division has different classes and there is also an environmental exhibition.

Needle art and sewing

One of the categories for this contest is the Special Contest, which includes the Theme Challenge, Kern County Challenge, the All American Challenge and the Christmas Tree Decoration contest. For the Theme Challenge, the theme is “A Moment in Time.”

The divisions for the Needle Art contests are:

* Needlepoint articles

* Counted thread and cross stitch

* Miscellaneous needlework

* Embroidered articles

* Applique articles

* Crocheted articles

* Hand knitted articles

* Decorative clothing articles

* Sewing

* Home furnishings

* Holidays

* Professional arts

For the Quilting contest, there is a division with several classes for professional quilting and a division for quilting done by the owner. There is also a charitable quilts and blankets contest and an environmental exhibition.

Photography

The photography competition is broken into four divisions: black and white, color, professional black and white and professional color. Each division has different classes for types of photos such as close-ups, landscapes and travel.

Junior division

There are also contests for kids ages 4 to 18 years old to show off their talents. Here are the following contests; see the Kern County Fair website for more information about the age range groups and rules:

* Apron contest

* Best use of fabric contest

* Dairy product contest

* Best of bread contest

* Chocolate contest

* Charcuterie board contest

* Fashion show contest

* Needle arts contests

* Crafts contests

* Fine arts contests

* Photography contests

* Baked goods contests

* Decorated foods contests

* Savory cooking contests

* Preserved foods contests

* Table decorating contests

* Floriculture contests

* Floral arrangements contest

* Plants and gardens contests

* Horticulture contests

* Mechanical science contests

* Trade skills contests

* Small metal project contests

* Large metal project contests

* Small woodworking project contests

* Large woodworking project contests

* Author’s corner contest

* Environmental exhibitions