How to Enter Exhibits

2024 Thurston County Fair Open Class Home Arts Department

How to Enter an Exhibit at the Thurston County Fair

Email us with questions at TCFairHomeArts@gmail.com

2024 Fair Dates are Wednesday, July 31 through Sunday, August 4, 2024

Entry Day for Textile Divisions is Monday July 22, 2024, from 12 noon - 6 pm at Heritage Hall on the Fairgrounds.  Accepted on this day:

  •     Division F Needle Arts
  •     Division G Quilting Arts
  •     Division H Sewing Arts
  •     Division I Fiber Arts
  •     Quilt Block Contest
  •     Apron Contest (open to all textile divisions)
Entry Day for Food Divisions is Monday July 29, 2024, from 12 noon - 6 pm at Heritage Hall on the Fairgrounds.  Accepted on this day:
  •     Division J Baking Arts
  •     Division K Food Preservation (including honey)
  •     Division L Beverages
  •     Division X Kitchen Arts >>NEW<<
Competitors for the Master Maker Award must enter on both days.

Pick-up Day is Monday, August 5, 1pm-7pm.

Steps to Enter:

  1. Look at the Exhibitor Guide for Open Class Home Arts.
  2. Decide what you would like to exhibit in the fair. You can enter in more than one Division and enter more than one item in most Divisions.
  3. The Exhibitor’s Guide instructions for each Open Class Home Arts Division will give the entry criteria. Follow the entry rules for each Division in which you wish to exhibit. 
  4. Obtain the necessary entry form(s) and an Exhibitor Information Card from the Fair Office or on Entry Days.  Open Class Home Arts Entry Forms can include:
  • Fill out an Exhibitor Information Card and obtain an Exhibitor Number. You must have an Exhibitor Information Card on file with the fair office in order to receive your premium check/award for your entry(s).
  • Home Arts Entry Form:  Your will need one form for your Textile entries and one for your Food/Kitchen entries.  List each of your entries on this form so we can track what you entered and make sure your items are returned to you at the end of the fair.
  • Home Arts 3-Part Exhibit Card:  One card per entry.  The left 1/3 of the 3-part card is your Claim Check.  The center of the card is used by the Judge to record which place your entry received.  This card stays with your exhibit.  The right 1/3 of the card records your place and the points you received for that exhibit; this is submitted to the Fair Office so you receive credit for your premium points.
  • Judging Sheet: We ask exhibitors to fill out a judged sheet for each of your entries to make sure the correct judging criteria are used to evaluate your entry.
  • Contest forms: Each year the Home Arts Department may have one or more special forms for your contest entries.
  • Food Preservation Jar Labels are required for some classes - refer to the Exhibitor Guide.
  • Recipes: The fair doesn't provide a form for your recipes, but recipes are required for some Exhibits - refer to the Exhibitor Guide. 
Note: for Division G (Quilting Arts) Class 8 (Miniature-Scale Quilts), the following description might help prospective exhibitors decide whether their entry fits into this category:  "Miniature: Quilts in this category must replicate a standard quilt using reduced scale and miniaturization, using any technique.  In a photo, you should not be able to distinguish the size of a miniature quilt from a large quilt."

Open Class Home Arts Forms:

Forms are available at the Fair office or on entry days.

Fair's Exhibitor Information Card

  • Make sure to include your email address on this card.
  • Your Exhibitor Number is:

Home Arts Entry Form

Home Arts 3-Part Exhibit Card

  • Write ONLY your Exhibitor Number (NOT Name) on all three parts of this form.
  • Make sure the correct Division, Class, Lot, and sublot (if appropriate) are written on your Exhibit Card in the center and right sections.
  • Make sure the Exhibit Title is the same in the center and right sections, and that they match what you wrote on the Home Arts Entry Form and on the Judging Sheet.
  • Example of the 3-Part Home Arts Exhibit Card (PDF) (to be added)

Home Arts Quilt Block Contest entry tag

Food Preservation "Jar" Labels

Refer to Food Preservation (Division K) and Beverages (Division L) sections of the Exhibitor Guide for details on jar or bottle labels.  Food Preservation jar/bottle labels can be downloaded below, or obtained at Heritage Hall on entry day.

Labels for Food Preservation, when required, must include:
    • Name of product
    • Date processed
    • Packing method (hot or cold; specify pretreatment if any
    • Processing or drying method (boiling water or pressure processing or air, oven, solar, or dehydrator drying)
    • Processing or drying time
    • For tomatoes - amount of citric acid or lemon juice added
    • Drying pre-treatment used (if applicable)
    • Name of publication used for guidance (note: not all classes require this information.

Download Microsoft Word Jar/Bottle Labels: Avery 22830 form - 2.5 inch round

Baking and Food Preservation Recipe Cards

Recipe cards must be included for all Baking entries, many Food Preservation entries (as noted for each class or lot), and every Beverage entry.  

Home Arts Department doesn't provide a template or form for recipe cards; however, recipe cards must be minimum 3-by-5-inches to maximum 4-by-6-inches and include:

  • Exhibitor Number (NOT name). Print exhibitor number in upper right corner of the recipe. 
  • Remember to list YOUTH and age if this applies to you (include name of adult assistant on recipe card)
  • Name of recipe (Must match Exhibit Card and Entry Form)
  • Source of recipe
  • List of ingredients
  • Procedures, temperatures, time, etc.
  • Let us know if you DO NOT want your recipe displayed at the fair!
Recipe cards are used for judging and display only and are not returned. Please indicate on your card whether you do not wish your recipe to be displayed at the fair.
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