Entries for Erie County Fair welcomed

The Erie County Fair is where competition lives! Spirited competition among peers is at the heart of the fair experience. Who has the best photograph? Best jam? Biggest stalk of corn? How about the best quilt, floral display, woodcarving, and more.

Show off your talents!  Did you know, there are more than 8,000 classes that can be entered to win cash prizes? But, more importantly, the bragging rights associated with taking home a championship ribbon.  Parents, don’t forget about those projects the kids did in school or clubs to enter for a chance to win cash premiums and/or ribbons.

All entries will be on display throughout the Fair in the Creative Arts Building, Woodcarvers Building, or the Ag-Grange Building depending on your entry.  Enter as many pieces as you want for $23.00 for adults ($5 for juniors ages 5-12), and you also get admission passes to the Erie County Fair (juniors are admitted free every day of the Fair).

The Erie County Fair welcomes public participation as most competitions have no residency requirement. Only the Fair’s “Home Wine,” “Home Brew” and “Conservation” categories are restricted to residents of New York State.  Classes include photography, drawings, quilts, sewing & needle art projects, flower arrangements, woodcarving, garden vegetables, canning, and more.  Children as young as 5 years of age are encouraged to take part in Junior Creative Arts, Fine Arts, & Ag-Grange.  Submissions that include Lego building block sculptures, handmade jewelry, vegetable/herb growing and doll making to name a few.

New competitions in 2023 include the following…

Open Shop Competition: This is an all ages competition created to highlight the trades; classes include creating/building agricultural machinery and equipment, livestock equipment, trailers, as well as home and family classes that include barbecue smokers, indoor and outdoor furniture and yard items.  Exhibitors will be able to provide their mechanical and technical skills to a judge(s) to show their method of creation.  Judges will come from our partners at LA Woolley Electric, Inc. and General Welding.

Tractor Restoration: This is an all ages competition to provide an opportunity for exhibitors to display tractors they have restored back to working condition from 1975 and earlier.  Exhibitors will be able to provide their mechanical, technical, and presentation skills to a judge(s) to show their method of creation.

Craft Cocktail: This is a 21+ competition designed for amateur and professional bartenders and baristas in the community to have an opportunity to exemplify their creativity and craftsmanship. In this competition, exhibitors will create their cocktail, distribute into 4 flight-sized beverages for tasting as well as demonstrate their craftsmanship when creating these beverages.

Ribbon Revamp:   In this competition, exhibitors will be provided with a bag of ribbons that can be cut, sewn, painted, ripped, burned, or manipulated in any way.  The ribbons may be made into a quilt, soft or hard sculpture, painting, mask, collage, or anything else. Exhibitors will be able to provide their creativity, knowledge of material, and their ability to create a piece out of a set amount of ribbons.  There is both a Junior and Open Division for this competition.

Horse Shows and livestock entries are also being accepted, including Youth Livestock Expo at www.ECFair.org; these are subject to separate rules, regulations and entry fees.

Entry information that includes terms/conditions, class listings and deadlines is available at www.ECFair.org. Most competitions have an entry deadline of July 14th.  Questions regarding the Fair’s Competitive Exhibits may be directed to CEoffice@ecfair.org or at (716) 649-3900 x6407. 

About the Erie County Fair

The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York.  The Erie County Fair will be held August 9th – 20th, 2023. (www.ECFair.org).