I don't because we live too far from the state fair. These last 10 years we've skipped going. You have to pay to park, pay to enter, pay through the nose for a bite to eat or cold drink... and see the same things year after year.

Pa has tons of smaller fairs during the summer months with free entry or free parking, smaller grounds . We bought a fair share for Bloomsburg Fair a long time ago when we catered the main stage entertainers. Good thing we bought it when we did, they now get $8,000 to $10,000 per share!
Other than secured money in the bank, fair members get privileged parking, unlimited passes for the fair share owner and 9 guest tickets, plus 2 free tickets advance of general sales for the main stage concerts.

There is a farm show in Harrisburg, the beginning weeks of January, that draws alot also, of course they don't have nearly the fresh veggie display, ( it usually is a bliizard that week sometime). Unfortunely the canned and baked entires are the orphans of this show, tucked away in the back at the old main entrance. You have to walk thru all the animal pens, tractor display and Govermental agency booths to find the entries.
Hershey Chocolate, Pa Egg Producers and Apple growers have the big prize awards for entries that have won at the local levels to be able to win in Harrisburg. Nice premiums for braving a potential blizzard, $500.00 this year from Hershey company for a chocolate cake.

Yes. I love the whole fair atmosphere and love to be a participant. I think that if you love fairs then entering something helps to preserve the event for another year.

This year was the first year I entered baked goods. Didn't win a thing but the competition was fierce. My first year entering jam I didn't win anything either.

I also entered pickles, hot pepper jam, peaches, and carrots. I won two second places for the peaches and carrots and best of jams for the hot pepper jam.

I'm definately hooked and probably always will be. I'm really happy to hear that you are entering your work and wish you the best of luck.

Cindy

Cindy, I am pleased to see that the first year no placing didn't deter you from future entries.

For me, I started entering in my jr year of high school with terrarium sand art containers, then moved onto floral displays and specimens. I didn't enter when I worked professionally in the food industry, I just didn't think it was fair to other contestants.
I started up again in 2003 and was proud that I came in 5th for decorated wreaths when I was put up against florists and xmas shop owners, that year also won heaviest weight maters ( 3 maters 7.6lbs) Competition at this fair is defintely fierce, just about all categories. I moved over to the ag building as opposed to the hort building because the premiums are higher and you were awarded nicer ribbons.
These entries not only provide the public with a nice display, but premiums help pay for next years seeds and supplies.
It's also nice to be rewarded for a job well done.

I am still anxious though, this is the 6th year I have entered a market basket display, darn it haven't even placed yet. Judging should just about be over now in the ag building today.
Tonight is entries accepted in the hort building. I coached the Delphiniums to bloom more this morning!

YES! I've probably never entered anything for competition that hasn't taught me something (sometimes humility). Aside from the personal satisfaction, fairs are such good things. It brings out the best in people, especially the youth, and is so encouraging to the community as a whole. Some people are motivated just by looking at displays, and food pres is enough of a lost art as it is. It could use a little motivation and public relations work. To have good things, you have to participate in good things. When people - even ones like us - stop participating, saying oh well, just didn't have the time or whatever - good things like fairs will cease to exist. And that will truly be a sorry time.

Oh yes, I sometimes enter the fair but more often I help my kids and grandkids with entries.

My nephew Dylan won a blue ribbon two years ago for his root beer jelly and my daughter won a best of show for Grandma's Rhubarb Pie.

The kids just love to get the ribbons and have their stuff on display, so I spend my time supervising the younger generations much of the time.

I see less and less fair participation, as Gran said, you have to contribute to have good things, so definitely, enter your products!!

Annie

No less competition at our fair, and fierce it is.
I didn't find all my items yet, but so far:
1st for the pickled diplay
1st for my 3 bean salad
2nd for Mater sauce
3rd for Rhuberry Jam
2nd for Sweet pickles
1st for fresh Romana bush beans
2nd for Yellow Wax Beans
3 rd for Delphnium
4th for mixed garden display
I haven't checked the other canned stuff I entered yet.
I was teasing the girl behind the rope that I would have to call a lady I know who entered and I was blinded with her name and all those blue ribbons, lol. Nice lady is her 70's she is

greenhouser there are ways around a lot of that stuff. Don't eat at the fair or smuggle in your food, take an insulated container of cool drink, park a short distance from the fair as to not pay- small local fairs usually aren't that crazy busy that you have to walk a mile- or take a bus. Tell the officials you are on a limited income whether you are or not and see about a discount. Gran2 I agree. My parents say the same as greenhouser that its not worth it. If everyone said that, there wouldn't BE a fair. The other day, as I was collecting my entries, the supt. in the ag/hort building said that they were in danger of losing their lease at the fair due to lack of interest/entries. I will make a point to spread the word here - especially at our upcoming COUNTY fair about entering in our city fair which is only about 20 miles apart from the other fair. I'll contact the local extension as well as the community college.

At the City Fair I got 9 1sts, 8 2nds, 9 3rds including two Best of Shows in Cactus. Of course there's more $ to be made thru the farmers mkt.

Our County fair starts this weekend. Although I didn't enter there they still get many entries. I am planning for the big fair in September. Congrats, perfect on all your winnings. I was going thru the Premium book swearing I wasn't going to do much but looks like I will this year.
For participation here they had to build extra shelving units in the ag building for all the entries the past 2 years. The herb display the previous year you couldn't even tell one herb from another so packed, same for the hort building. Those buildings are 20,000 square feet they spill over in between the buildings with the Christmas trees and wreath entries, no place left in the buildings.
Attendance is going to be high this year I think, they opened to the general public for Grandstand ticket sales last Saturday, there was a 3hour line all day. The members who got their tickets for Sugarland prior to the public are selling them for 300.00 a piece!