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How to Enter a Collection Exhibit at the County Fair

The county fair offers a variety of opportunities to compete for ribbons and sometimes monetary awards. One way is to exhibit a collection of items at the fair. If you are a collector, this is your chance to show off your prized items while getting a chance to see similar collections. Entering your collection for exhibition involves following the guidelines set by the county fair committee, which is a branch of the local county farm extension office. The committee oversees the various departments, categories and rules of exhibition for each. If you are considering entering a collection exhibit at the county fair, it is better to begin preparing months before the fair opens.

Things You'll Need

County fair handbook
Display supplies (as needed)
Fees (if applicable)

Instructions

- 1
  Review the county fair requirements for exhibiting a collection. This information is available at either your local county farm extension office or on its website. Locate the appropriate age group and section such as vintage, antique, toys and tools for the exhibition rules.
- 2
  Read the criteria for exhibiting a collection such as the minimum and maximum number of items that can be displayed; the maximum size of any one item; and how the collection should be displayed, such as the amount of space allowed on the table for any one collection or the type of hooks to be used if the items are to be hung.
- 3
  Create name tags to identify your collection, following the county fair requirements for tagging an exhibit. Some county fairs will have their own tags that exhibitors are to use.
- 4
  Complete the application forms and make note of the date and time you need to deliver the collection to the county fair for set-up. Pay any fees that are required to submit an collection for exhibit; in exchange, many county fairs give their exhibitors an admission pass.
- 5
  Remove the collection exhibit at the end of the county fair as designated by the fair committee.

Other Collecting