The excitement of each year’s Fair begins with the arrival of the Exhibit Guide. Fair Manager John Steffanic says it’s time to get excited! The theme for the 2019 Plumas Sierra County Fair is “Show What You Grow, Share What You Know!”. “It probably should have said “Show What You Grow, Raise and Made”, but that wouldn’t have rhymed.” Said Steffanic. The exhibit guide is filled with divisions and classes that let everyone who lives in the area show what they have made, grown or raised.
The number of competitive exhibits is a direct reflection of the health of any Fair, and the Plumas Sierra County Fair Board is constantly urging everyone to take a look at the exhibit guide and enter something. In recent years, the number of exhibits in the Floriculture and Home Arts buildings has been dropping. This could be due to less Home Economic classes being offered in school, or to the passing of long time exhibitors. Whatever the reason, the Fair really needs to find more people willing to share their cookies, jams, sewing, cut flowers, vegetables and crafts. Although the entry fees are very affordable, most are only $2, the PSCF Foundation has decided to remove that possible barrier by paying for all entry fees in Floriculture and Home Arts this year. The only exclusions are entry fees for the Family/Organizational Gardens, and quilts. The offer does not apply to Art Barn or Livestock entries. Any other categories are free in 2019!
The steps are simple; browse the exhibit guide, decide what you might like to enter, fill out the entry form, turn it in to the Fair office by the deadline (Most are July 12, many of the Floriculture entries are due just the week before the Fair), and then bring your entries to the Fair on the dates shown in the guide. Since there are no fees, feel free to enter as many things as you want. For instance, if you think you might want to enter your homemade bread, go ahead and enter it. When Fair time comes, and maybe there is a reason you can’t get the bread done, it’s no big deal. You aren’t out any money, but at least you could have entered the bread if you had gotten around to it.
There are many categories that are not what some people would think of at a Fair. There are certainly the classics; jelly, baked goods, zucchini, flowers and needlepoint. But there are also divisions that are unique, and might not require a particular skill to enter. There is a Division for Giftwrapping. Do you write poetry? Enter your poems. Make a shadow box. The Fair actually provides the box, so all you have to do is gather the items you want to display, and come to the fairgrounds to arrange them in the box. You can enter soap or candles you have made. You can decorate a cake, pie or confection, even if you didn’t make it, the judging is on the decoration. Enter jerky, or salsa. Crochet a rug, sew a Christmas tree skirt. There are categories for all these.
If you have an African Violet, or a cactus, or a Boston Fern that thrives in your home, please share it with everyone by entering it in the Floriculture Building. Some people don’t have a green thumb, but love plants. There are several divisions for silk or dried flower arranging. Finally, everyone should know that to enter something from your garden, you only have to turn in an entry form the Friday before the Fair. Perhaps it is some cut flowers, or some fresh carrots or onions. Don’t forget about the oddities; largest vegetable, oddest shaped vegetable or the heaviest tomato. These are all things the public needs to see!
Printed Exhibit Guides are available at all Plumas Bank branches and public libraries. Copies can also be picked up at the Fair Office. A downloadable version is available on the Fair website; www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net. The Fair has also taken the extra step of breaking the book down by sections for those that still have dial up and don’t necessarily need the entire book. Livestock entries are due on June 21 and most all other entries are due July 12.
The number of competitive exhibits is a direct reflection of the health of any Fair, and the Plumas Sierra County Fair Board is constantly urging everyone to take a look at the exhibit guide and enter something. In recent years, the number of exhibits in the Floriculture and Home Arts buildings has been dropping. This could be due to less Home Economic classes being offered in school, or to the passing of long time exhibitors. Whatever the reason, the Fair really needs to find more people willing to share their cookies, jams, sewing, cut flowers, vegetables and crafts. Although the entry fees are very affordable, most are only $2, the PSCF Foundation has decided to remove that possible barrier by paying for all entry fees in Floriculture and Home Arts this year. The only exclusions are entry fees for the Family/Organizational Gardens, and quilts. The offer does not apply to Art Barn or Livestock entries. Any other categories are free in 2019!
The steps are simple; browse the exhibit guide, decide what you might like to enter, fill out the entry form, turn it in to the Fair office by the deadline (Most are July 12, many of the Floriculture entries are due just the week before the Fair), and then bring your entries to the Fair on the dates shown in the guide. Since there are no fees, feel free to enter as many things as you want. For instance, if you think you might want to enter your homemade bread, go ahead and enter it. When Fair time comes, and maybe there is a reason you can’t get the bread done, it’s no big deal. You aren’t out any money, but at least you could have entered the bread if you had gotten around to it.
There are many categories that are not what some people would think of at a Fair. There are certainly the classics; jelly, baked goods, zucchini, flowers and needlepoint. But there are also divisions that are unique, and might not require a particular skill to enter. There is a Division for Giftwrapping. Do you write poetry? Enter your poems. Make a shadow box. The Fair actually provides the box, so all you have to do is gather the items you want to display, and come to the fairgrounds to arrange them in the box. You can enter soap or candles you have made. You can decorate a cake, pie or confection, even if you didn’t make it, the judging is on the decoration. Enter jerky, or salsa. Crochet a rug, sew a Christmas tree skirt. There are categories for all these.
If you have an African Violet, or a cactus, or a Boston Fern that thrives in your home, please share it with everyone by entering it in the Floriculture Building. Some people don’t have a green thumb, but love plants. There are several divisions for silk or dried flower arranging. Finally, everyone should know that to enter something from your garden, you only have to turn in an entry form the Friday before the Fair. Perhaps it is some cut flowers, or some fresh carrots or onions. Don’t forget about the oddities; largest vegetable, oddest shaped vegetable or the heaviest tomato. These are all things the public needs to see!
Printed Exhibit Guides are available at all Plumas Bank branches and public libraries. Copies can also be picked up at the Fair Office. A downloadable version is available on the Fair website; www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net. The Fair has also taken the extra step of breaking the book down by sections for those that still have dial up and don’t necessarily need the entire book. Livestock entries are due on June 21 and most all other entries are due July 12.
