Start planning for your possible blue-ribbon or best-in-show winning entries in our community’s annual Gila County Fair, just one month ahead: Sept. 20-23. Gardeners? You can enter fruits and veggies literally ‘from A-to-Z’ if you grew superb apples, zucchini, or just about any horticultural category in between – and yes, even unusual varietals such as quince, Jerusalem artichokes, kohlrabi or elephant garlic. In fact, the fair book lists no less than eight separate categories for tomatoes; read them all at gilacountyfair.com, where you can also download entry forms.
Homemaking Arts
Here’s a whole ‘nother competition area and if you’ve sewn a unique garment, crib blanket, costume, onesie, or fashion accessory, enter yours for a shot at Best In Show! Bakers are invited to submit bread entries ranging from white and whole wheat to sourdough, banana, zucchini, coffee cake – or a dozen other entry options. Cakes, pies and cookies, too. Do your homemade tamales score rave reviews from friends and family? ‘Mexican Cookery’ classes in the fair include tortillas, frijoles, sopapillas, tamales and hot sauce. Winemakers are encouraged to enter their zinfandel, malbec, sangiovese, tempranillo or pinot noir. Beer categories range from ales, lagers and porters to “spontaneous fermenting amber.”
Canning
Competitors include pickles, vegetables, jellies, jam, butter, marmalade – and even meat, poultry or fish.
Photography
There are divisions for youth, adult and age 75+, with a separate class for pros – and no less than 45 categories for subject matter from ‘abstract’ to ‘wildlife.’ Again, check out the fair book online and scroll down to page 80 for Department J – Photography.
Deadlines
Sept. 13 is the deadline to enter online, or fill out paperwork for each entry in-person at the Globe-Miami Chamber of Commerce from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sept. 18, deliver your entries to the exhibit hall in the main building at the Gila County Fairgrounds from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m. (judging happens the following day). Sept. 19, floriculture entries (fresh flowers and arrangements) should be brought while they’re at peak to the exhibit hall from 7 a.m. - 8:45 a.m., and will be judged that morning while they’re fresh and looking their best.
Questions? Exhibit categories and rules are all in the fair book, easy to find online at gilacountyfair.com. For updates about events, activities and entertainment please like and follow facebook.com/gilacounty.fair.
