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Secretly, every hobbyist, collector, backyard farmer and amateur photographer wants to know how their work stacks up against everyone else's. Well, it's time to stop wondering and find out for sure - by exhibiting at the Hamilton County Fair.
No matter what your interest, there's a place for you at the Fair. In all, there are more than 25 categories from which to choose, ranging from antiques to tomatoes and scarecrows. We're talking bragging rights here ... as well as more than $9,000 in prize money.
The Premium Listing, which is available at Libraries and various locations provides details on the exhaustive list of categories as well as instructions on how to enter. If you cannot find a Premium Guide or if you need additional help, you can visit the Fair’s Web site: hamiltoncountyfair.com and use the Search Function to find your category.
Don't let the seemingly endless listings of prize categories bother you. You're only concerned with those that interest you, and they are easy to find. Follow these simple steps:
Fill out the entry coupon (located in the Premium Guide or available on the web site) with the appropriate information. If you have any questions, phone the Fair Office, 761-4224. Leave your name and phone number. The head of the department in which you are interested will contact you.
Mail the completed entry coupon with $10 for your Exhibitor's Ticket, or $20 for a membership ticket (includes free parking!) to Hamilton County Fair, 7801 Anthony Wayne, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45216. Checks should be made payable to the Hamilton County Agricultural Society. The ticket admits one person to all sessions of the Fair and gives the right to make up a total of 25 entries in any department unless otherwise specified. You can enter many different departments if you so desire. Or to save money on parking, consider buying a Membership to the Hamilton County Agricultural Society
Note the instructions carefully for the time to bring your entry to the Fair, rules for presentation, where the judging will take place, and time of removal.
Here are some of the categories in vegetables and herbs:
Tomatos - Beefsteak, Yellow, Yellow Pear, Plum, Cherry, Standard Round Red, Other Pink, Other Orange, and of course, the Largest Tomato.
Sweet Bell Peppers - Green, Red, Yellow, Sweet Banana, Italian Sweet and the Largest Sweet Pepper.
Hot Peppers - Hungarian Wax Banana, Cayenne, Habenaro, Jalapeno, Other Chili, Other Banana Pepper.
Onion Family - Yellow, White, Red, Baby and Pickling Onion, Garlic, Green, Other Onion, Largest Onion.
Root Vegetable Family - Red Potato, White Potato, New Potato, Yam, Turnips, Beets, Carrots, Radish, Other Root, Largest Yam, Largest Beet, Largest Turnip.
Vine Family - Zucchini, Winter Squash, Other Squash, Eggplant, Okra, Cucumber, Yellow Squash, Largest Squash, Largest Pumpkin, Largest Cucumber.
Leaf and Stalk Family - Kohlrabi, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, common green, Cabbage, red, Brussel Sprouts, Kale, Rhubarb, Beet Greens, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Other, Largest Cabbage, Yellow Corn, White Corn.
Fresh Legumes (beans) - Green beans, Wax Beans, yellow; Lima Beans, fresh; Peas, Dried Beans, Dried Lentils, Other fresh beans.
Look at these prizes for Vegetable Display: 1st - $15.00, 2nd - $10.00 and 3rd - $5.00. You can select Peppers, Gourds or All other vegetables. There is a category for Peppers, Gourds and best arrangement of vegetables in a basket or tray.
Display of garden products by an individual or organization: 1st - $45.00, 2nd - $30.00, 3rd - $15.00.
There is also a category for Container Gardening with prizes of $10.00, $8.00 and $5.00 for first, second and third.
Vegetable in a 10" or under container with roots, tomato; Vegetable in a 10" or under container with roots, pepper; Vegetable in a 10" or under container with roots, any other variety; Vegetable in a container over 10” with roots, tomato; Vegetable in a container over 10” with roots, pepper; and Best Display of Garden Products by an individual or organization.
If herbs are your thing, there’s several categories for them. They must be potted but can be dug from the garden and re-planted for entry. Among them are Sweet Basil, Other Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, Chives, Oregano, Parsley, Peppermint, Other Mint, Sage, Tarragon, Horseradish (root only, Dill, Lavender, Other Herbs and Best Collection of Herbs (Single Pot).
It may also be worthwhile to create a Scare Crow. The prizes are worth $40 for First to $5 for seventh.
The entry must be free standing. The height of each entry must not exceed six feet nor below three feet. The width must not exceed six feet. Scarecrows should be loveable, mischievous, and humorous - not frightening.
The 2007 Hamilton County Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, August 1 through Sunday, August 5, so there's not much time to get ready!