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General Rules & Information

ALL entries MUST be submitted in person: Thursday, August 15, 4-7pm AND Friday, August 16, 9am - 12pm ONLY unless otherwise noted.
Literary entries due Thursday, August 1, (9am-3pm) in the Fair office (800 San Francisco St.) August 16 ~ China Painting entries due Friday, August 16 (8am-12pm).
Entry tags are available at the fair office (800 San Francisco St.) prior to the fair and at check-in time. Required information for entry tags: name, phone number and age/skill group. Incomplete entry tags will forfeit premiums.
Use a separate entry tag for each item. Articles must be exhibited under the name of the maker who has never exhibited the same item in a previous Fair. Each entry must be the exhibitor’s original work. Group entries must be labeled as such. Products exhibited in horticulture and culinary must have been grown or prepared locally during the current calendar year. Work will be disqualified if not original.
Please refer to rules specific to your division for further information. Specific division guidelines, rules and display requirements must be adhered to or the entry will be automatically disqualified. Management has the right to refuse exhibition of work deemed unsuitable.
Unless an entry is worthy, the judges need not give an award even if it is the only entry in the lot. Award decisions are entirely those of the judges and shall be considered final.
NEW LAST YEAR -Judging will be based on the American System as opposed to the Danish system, in ALL Departments. In the American System of Judging, each exhibit is judged not only on its own merit, but in comparison to other exhibits. The American System is a rank-order scoring system which awards the top exhibitor 1st, another 2nd, 3rd, etc. based on a score. There may also be special categories such as “Best of Class, Best of Show, etc.” While the American System uses standards and requirements, it primarily uses the idea of competition between exhibitors, pitting one competitor against another to establish the rankings.
Exhibit buildings are closed Friday, August 16 at 1pm for judging. ONLY the judge, superintendents and clerks are allowed in the buildings.
Every precaution is taken, however Central States Fair, Inc. is not responsible for any loss or damage to exhibits.
Unless otherwise specified under the appropriate Division, ENTRIES WILL BE RELEASED SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 from 12-2pm ONLY! NO entries will be released early. Anyone removing their entry prior to release time will forfeit any ribbons, premium monies and special awards they have won that year and will not be allowed to enter exhibits the following year. Exhibit tags are required for release. Horticulture exhibits must be picked up on Wednesday, August 21.
Premium Awards are: first place $3, second place $2, third place $1. Maximum payout to any one individual is $50. Projects with incomplete entry tags forfeit all premiums.
Premiums must be claimed in the Nerdy Nuts Building on Sunday, August 25, 12-2pm ONLY . ALL ITEMS AND PREMIUMS UNCLAIMED AFTER 2PM ON AUGUST 25 ARE FORFEITED AND BECOME PROPERTY OF CENTRAL STATES FAIR, INC.