Want a Blue Ribbon? Big Fresno Fair Deadline for Entries is Monday

Have you ever walked into one of the exhibit halls at the Big Fresno Fair and wondered where all the artwork, baked goods, and plants come from? Well, they come from you, the residents of Fresno County.

You have until Monday to sign-up to be an exhibitor at this year’s fair. There’s a category for everyone and every talent.

Have a green thumb? Then maybe the Home Gardner section inside the Agriculture building is for you. Or show off your roses in Floriculture.

Fine Arts and Photography is the place to showcase everything from oils to pastels and even those awesome travel photos you captured on your smartphone. There are categories for amateurs and professionals. 

Kids can get in on the action too. Junior Exhibits features all the things you’d find in the adult categories. It’s a fun way for children to connect with their county, show off their skills and build self-confidence. On a personal note, I was once one of those kids featured in Junior Exhibits. I used to love to enter the table setting competition. My TV Guide Collection also brought home a Blue Ribbon.

One of the most popular exhibits is Home Arts. That’s where you’ll see jams, jellies, pies, cookies, quilts, needlepoint and so much more.

Last year I had the honor of interviewing a pair of sisters who have been racking up Blue Ribbons for more than 60 years. Arlene Owen and Maxine Easley are in their 90s. Both said they’d like to see more young people get involved in the fair. 

“A lot of the people I had in the competition are all gone by now,” Owen said. “There are so many different things now going on that people don’t have the time to prepare for the fair.”

Kathy Currin is the Superintendent of Home Arts, she’s been working hard to modernize the exhibit and add new categories. 

“Home Arts is a great way to keep traditions alive and showcase talents,” Currin said. “It means a lot to me. I have a great team to work with. Each year is different; the building tells a story from beginning to end.”

Currin says she loves when someone is hesitant to enter and then brings home a ribbon. She says they usually come back the next year with more entries.

There is a small fee to enter most categories. First, second and third place recipients receive a ribbon and cash prize.

The theme for the 2019 Big Fresno Fair is “Sierra to the Sea.” The fair is celebrating nature, wildlife, and conservation. You can showcase the theme in your entries. The Big Fresno Fair put together a toolkit to help you create your masterpiece. 

Something else new for 2019 is the Tamale Throwdown on October 8^th. Each recipe must be homemade and feature an ingredient grown in Fresno County. To learn more about the Tamale Throwdown, click here.

Again, Monday is the last day to register for exhibit entries. Click here to enter and learn more about all the categories.The Big Fresno Fair runs October 2^nd -14^th. For all things Big Fresno Fair visit their website.