Why enter produce in the fair?
There are myriad reasons to display at the fairgrounds what you have cultivated at home or in the community garden. First, displaying what you’ve grown provides an opportunity to show the million-or-so annual fair visitors what can grow in Orange County gardens. My family especially enjoys entering unusual items such as the rat-tail radish, which produces plentiful edible seed pods, along with a giant barky radish bulb that is impressive in size (but almost impossible to eat). In fact, Ziva won three ribbons for her “largest radish” entry with our rat-tail radish. The ribbons are not the most important aspect of participating, but winning does feel encouraging and gratifying to anyone, especially to young gardeners. Second, you will finally have something to do with that giant squash that grew out of control under the vine unnoticed. Each week there is a competition for “Largest Zucchini” and “Largest Squash (Not Zucchini),” and other fun categories like weirdest-shaped carrot. You can always tell the largest zucchini entries from far off as they are being brought in from the parking lot. Some of them, I bet you could see from space! Third, it’s free to enter, and you will earn a free fair ticket as well.
Is it difficult to enter produce and flowers in the fair?
No, it is not difficult to enter items in the horticultural competitions of the fair. Although artwork, quilts, and other displays that are judged need to be entered before the fair begins, the horticultural competitions are weekly while the fair is in progress. Sign up online the day before, indicating what category you are entering, and look up the instructions in the online competition guide. For example, the 2023 instructions read that cherry tomatoes should be entered as a short stalk with 5 tomatoes still attached. All plants should be clean and free of bugs or anything else that could contaminate the other entries or harm the plants at the Centennial Gardens. When you arrive on the designated weekday morning for drop-offs, you’ll pick up your entry cards by the gate, enter the gate, and leave your card and produce with fairground staff who will place it in the correct area and division. You can enter flowers and small gardens such as fairy gardens, too, which are displayed indoors. On your way out, don’t forget to pick up your free ticket to the fair. Come back the next week on the designated day and time to collect your entries, see if you won a ribbon or received any judges’ comments, and drop off your new harvest!
Should kids participate?
Absolutely, families and kids should participate if they can! The youth division helps build confidence for the younger gardeners and lets them earn ribbons in their own competition. This can encourage healthy hobbies for children and pave the way for learning how to grow their own food in the future. The youngest gardener in our family notes that the free ticket and the rides at the fair are a great incentive. Building an interest in the huge range of what can grow in Zone 10a is easier when you can flip through the seed catalogue or walk through the plant nursery and muse on what might be fun to show in the fair.
The fine print and details
The 2024 Orange County Fair will be held July 19 through August 18. Save the date!
Learn more about creating an online exhibitor account for the fair here: https://ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/entry-tutorial/ . When the 2024 horticultural guide is ready, you’ll find it here: https://ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/horticulture/ . See you at the drop-off!