Create. Craft. Compete!

Do you love to be creative? Or do you have hundreds of “pins” on your Pinterest boards that you have been meaning to try? Whether it’s fabric flowers or a purse made from a map, there’s no better reason to begin creating than the 300+ arts and crafts competitions at this year’s Fair!

From woodworking to weaving, Origami to photography, stained glass to sewing, we showcase the talents and creative diversity of Ohioans and offer thousands of dollars in cash prizes!

The following are the competitions classes you can enter for a chance to win cash prizes:

- Antiques and Antique Appraisals and Collectables
- Fashion Arts
- Handcrafted Arts
- Needle Art

- Wild and Wacky Art

There are also hundreds of divisions within each class, which means there is a competition for every skill level, whether you are a novice or an expert. Some of the divisions include: art pottery, antique jewelry, crochet, holiday decoration, scrapbooking, knitting and even Brillo Pad Art! Check out the “Armabrillo” submitted at last year’s Fair!

There’s even a division called “Artistic Upcycling - Recycled Creations.” Entries in this division include materials that are used for purposes other than their original use or remade into an object. Look at the wallets made from used cartons that we found on Pinterest! Can you think of other creative ways to turn your trash into treasure? 

Don’t miss this perfect opportunity to change your “potential” Pinterest projects into completed ones! The deadline for all entries is June 20. Please visit http://www.ohiostatefair.com/index.php/competitionsfor a complete list of competitions or to download an entry form. To enter online, please visit http://ohioa.fairmanager.com/. Good luck! 

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Bake your way to a blue ribbon!

You can have your cake and eat it too this year at the Ohio State Fair. There are more than 150 cooking, cake decorating and baking competitions being held throughout the Fair. From pies, to cakes, to jams and more, the Culinary and Baking Arts divisions have classes for every amateur baker and cook. With more than $16,000 in prizes, don't miss out on this opportunity to enter your favorite recipes! Enter online by June 20. 

There are five divisions to choose from:

• Baking Arts
• Nutritious & Delicious
• Culinary Arts
• Cake Decorating
• Food Preservation

Participants may have up to two entries per class. Click here for a complete list of rules and regulations and to enter online. 

There are also opportunities to participate in many live cook-offs and challenges throughout the Fair! We are proud to introduce a new addition to the Fair, the Kenmore Greatest Generations of Grilling Cook-Off, being held on July 27. The winner will receive a $5,000 Kenmorekitchen makeover and a trip to the NYC Wine and Food Festival valued at $3,400! Entries are limited to the first 30 contestants, so don't delay!

Other cook-offs and contests being held throughout the Fair include:

• Aramark “Chopped” Cook-off – August 3
• Bisquick Family Favorites Recipe Contest – July 30
• Family Heirloom Recipe Competition – August 3 
• Fleischmann’s® Yeast Best Baking Contest – July 26
• Market Fresh Vegetables Showdown – August 2
• Ultimate Breakfast Challenge – July 27
• Food Sculpting Competition – July 31

Don't miss out on this chance to win big prizes for your mouth-watering recipes!

For more information and a complete list of cooking, baking and cake decorating competitions please visit www.ohiostatefair.com. Good luck!

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Nominations being accepted for Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year

Do you know a dedicated woman who is passionate about Ohio agriculture? If so, now is the time to nominate her for the 2013 Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year Award! Nominations are due by June 21 and the application for the award can be found here: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/TopNews/AgricultureWomenOfTheYear/.

The award program was developed in 2011 and is administered through the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Office of the First Lady. The program encourages nominations of women who make an outstanding contribution to Ohioagriculture, and have made significant impact on the agriculture industry as a whole.

To be eligible, recipients must be a current Ohio resident and have resided in the state of Ohiofor a minimum of 10 cumulative years. It is also required that the nominee is active in the agriculture industry with a minimum of five years of experience and has served her community in some professional and or civic capacity.

Winners of the award will be recognized by Ohio First Lady Karen Kasich and Ohio Agriculture Director David Daniels during an awards reception at the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden. Each recipient will also have her name engraved on a plaque for permanent display at the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

“Last year, I was honored to meet and introduce our first four outstanding women chosen as Ohio Agriculture Women of the Year. Each woman was an amazing testament to strength, personal integrity and success,” said Mrs. Kasich. “In the second full year of this program, I am looking forward to hearing the stories and celebrating the achievements of more strong women in agriculture.”

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Want to meet Carly Rae Jepsen and Hot Chelle Rae?

Now is your chance!

Breakout pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen has taken America by storm after bursting onto the scene with her hit single "Call Me Maybe." For the very first time, she is performing in Columbus at the Ohio State Fair.

"And this is crazy," but we're giving away free tickets!

Text "MAYBE" to 88588 to be entered for your chance to win a pair of concert tickets or the VIP grand prize package to see Carly Rae Jepsen and Hot Chelle Rae at the Ohio State Fair on July 31 at 7 pm!

The VIP package includes:

• Two front row seats to the concert
• Meet and greet with Carly Rae Jepsen
• Meet and greet with Hot Chelle Rae
• Autographed merchandise
• Free parking

Each Friday in June, one lucky winner will be selected to win a pair of tickets to the show. On July 5, the VIP grand prize winner will be selected to win the amazing VIP prize package above! Winners will be notified via text message.

Billboard recently named Jepsen its "Rising Star" at the 2012 Billboard Women In Music Awards, and she won the 2012 American Music Award for Best New Artist. Jepsen received two 2012 Grammy nominations for Best Pop Solo Performance and Song of the Year. Needless to say, this concert is one you won't want to miss. 

Get your tickets today
For those who don't win or simply don't have the patience to see if they win, you can purchase your tickets right now! Hope to see you at the concert!

For the official rules, click here. 

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From One Fairgoer to Another

With nearly 200 food vendors, 17 different types of food on a stick, dozens of buildings, attractions, entertainers and rides, where does a fairgoer begin his or her experience at the Ohio State Fair?

After 160 years of tradition, along with a wealth of new attractions and activities each year, the perpetuity of the Fair can be overwhelming, especially for a first-time fairgoer. So we asked our social media followers this question: If you could give a first-time fairgoer one tip (foods to try, shows not to miss, buildings to visit) for their visit to the Ohio State Fair, what would it be?

Things to eat

Of course, we got an abundant amount of feedback regarding food! Whether you’re craving something sweet, salty, sour or spicy, the Fair has a variety of foods and beverages to offer your taste buds. Here’s what our followers had to say about the scrumptious fair food:

“I won’t leave the Fair without Inky Dinky Donuts. Yum-o-rific!” -Kelly S.

“Roasted corn on the cob is a must! Don’t forget the butter plus refillable giant iced tea.”  -Patrick G.

All responses were great, but we especially enjoyed the approach Sara S. takes: “Eat your way from one entrance to the other!”

Other popular responses regarding food included Tracey’s hamburgers, deep fried pickles, cheese on a stick, Schmidt’s cream puffs and ice cream. Fairgoer Andrea J. doesn't wait for dessert to enjoy her ice cream; she suggests eating it for breakfast! Hey, the Fair is a place to eat whatever you want, whenever you want!

Things to do

Although we all love fair food, what good would a fair be without attractions and entertainment? At the Fair, there is something going on all day, every day. How do you decide where to go and what to do? When fairgoers answered this question, it seemed as though a handful of responses were repeated over and over: Ride the SkyGlider, listen to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir (AOSFYC), as well as the Ohio State Fair Band (OSFB), spend time at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) park and check out the butter cow!

“Ride the SkyGlider first - that way you can view the whole fair and plan out what foods to try on the way back!” - Amy M.

“At the ODNR park, canoeing, fishery, archery and animal shows are all free with admission. It’s the best thing at the Fair.” -Chris W.

In a nutshell

Although these responders specifically expressed their favorite foods and activities, others had general advice to give to first-time fairgoers, such as staying in the shade, buying refillable drinks, not wearing black and remembering where you park! Misty C. had a great tip to offer:

“Download the Ohio State Fair App for maps and go to the webpage to print off coupons for concessions.”

Diane A. added, “Remember to take a break. Grab a drink, find a shady spot and people watch. Then continue to enjoy the best state fair in the country.”

While some fairgoers tried to narrow down the best food to eat and others reminisced on childhood memories with a sense of nostalgia, Stephanie M. summed it all up, by offering three words of advice: “Do it all.”

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Calling all Ohio artists: showcase your original artwork!

Do you have what it takes to be named one of Ohio’s best artists?

Outstanding artists, superb sculptors, prominent painters, talented photographers and top-notch filmmakers from all over the state can enter their work into the Ohio State Fair’s Fine Arts Exhibition.

Everyone over the age of 17 (as of June 1, 2013) is invited to compete. Not only can artists showcase their talents at the exhibition, they also have the opportunity to sell their work to serious art collectors through the Patron Purchase Program. More than $18,000 in awards will be offered!

Artists will also have the opportunity to compete in our Plein Air competition on Saturday, July 27. Fairgoers can choose from a vast amount of locations on the fairgrounds to complete their outdoor painting - don’t worry, there will be plenty of scenery! On Saturday, Aug. 3 artists can enter the Street Painting competition by chalking an original artwork in a 4x4 or 8x8 asphalt area on the grounds.

For assistance in entering the Fine Arts Exhibition, artists are invited to attend our Fair Entry 101 workshop on Saturday, May 18. Attendees can bring the artwork they would like to enter into the fair to the event. When they leave their pieces will be entered into the exhibition and they will receive a CD with digital images of their work on it. The workshop will take place in the Voinovich conference room and costs $30 per digital image entry ($5 for each additional image.) Bowling Greenstudents receive a $10 discount.  

All attendees must RSVP to the Fair Entry 101 workshop. Please contact Pamela O’Loughlin at p.oloughlin@expo.state.oh.us or call 614.296.2256 to set up an appointment sometime between 10 am and 4 pm. When setting up your appointment, please also disclose the size of your artwork, the medium and how it is to be displayed.

If you aren’t into fine arts, there’s no need to feel left out! The Creative Arts division allows participants to compete in areas such as fashion, sewing, culinary arts, antiques or creative crafts. The Ohio State Fair also holds competitions in other interest areas ranging from sporting events to academic challenges. A full list of these contests can be found here.

Those interested in entering the Fine Arts Exhibition can download the Fine Arts Prospectus form from ohiostatefair.com and then enter online. Entries are due no later than May 29, 2013.

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Enter now! You could win a blue ribbon!

Mark your calendar today - many Fair entry deadlines are quickly approaching:

May 28

• Homebrew Competition - Whether you brew ales, porters or lagers, there’s a class for you in the Fair’s homebrew competition. This competition is open to all Ohio home brewers (or members of an Ohio homebrew club). This year's competition will be held on Saturday, June 15. 

May 29

• Fine Arts - Ohio artists and filmmakers are invited to enter the Fair's fine arts division, which includes a short film division.

June 7

• 4-H Spelling Bee - Participating schools may recommend two students in each grade level and participating 4-H county extension offices may recommend one student for each grade level, third through sixth (for the 2012-2013 academic year). The competition is open to both 4-H and non-4-H members.

June 10

• Youth Arts - Ohio students from pre-kindergarten through high school can enter up to four works of art in dozens of categories. 

June 20

• Arts & Crafts, Antiques & Fashion -  There is something for everyone with hundreds of different competition classes and thousands of dollars in prizes! Enter your best sewing, quilting, fashion, jewelry, leather, needlework and more. Get wild and wacky when you enter the Duck brand duct tape or Brillo pad art contest - both of which offer free supplies for your creations!
• Cooking, baking and decorating - Think you make the best pie in town? Put your baking skills to the test by entering your best home-baked goods in the Fair’s various classes of baking competitions that offer thousands of dollars in prizes. 
• Livestock - Some of the Ohio State Fair’s livestock classes include beef and dairy cattle, llamas, rabbits, sheep, poultry, goats and swine. Anyone can participate in the open classes, but junior classes are open only to Ohio 4-H and FFA members. Late entries (with late fees charged) are accepted through the Fair. 

July 1

• Agriculture/Horticulture/Floriculture - Show us your gardening skills by entering your home-grown flowers, fruits and vegetables in the Agriculture and Horticulture competitions at the Ohio State Fair. Other categories for competition include floral design and Christmas trees.
• Scholarships - High school juniors, seniors and graduates who are continuing their education at an accredited institution in an undergraduate course of study in a field of their choice are eligible to apply. Applicants will be judged on scholastic standing, citizenship and leadership, Ohio State Fair participation, county fair participation and financial need. Scholarships will be awarded to junior exhibitors during the Ohio State Fair. 
• Horse Show - Equine lovers can participate in several classes, including Percherons, Belgians, Clydesdales, Shires, Hackneys, American Miniature Horse, American Show Pony, Shetlands, Haflingers and Saddlebreds. Open classes are available for everyone to participate.

July 10

• Baton - Since 1966, baton twirlers have twirled their way to victory at the Fair. See if you have what it takes enter one of the Fair’s 11 classes including various struts, solo, duets/pairs, two/three batons and freestyle/rhythmic twirl.

July 12

• Boxing - The tournament, with classes for everyone, is held under sanction of the Ohio Association of USA Boxing. It’s sure to be a big hit.

July 19

• Cheer and Dance - Teams from all over the state will perform their cheer and dance routines as they compete for top titles in this Americheer event.

July 22

• Plein Air - Artists can spend the day creating works of art from the scenes of the Fair, plein air style. The work must be completed at an outdoor location at the Fair
• Street Painting - Get Chalking! In a 4 x 4 or 8 x 8 asphalt area on the grounds, street artists statewide will chalk it up on the Fairgrounds.

July 24

• Wrestling - Top wrestlers in each age division of the folkstyle and freestyle tournaments will be awarded with medals. 

July 26

• Taekwondo - The Buckeye Classic State/Regional Taekwondo Championships for taekwondo, the most popular martial art in the world and an ancient Korean martial art, will be held at the Fair for the second consecutive year. 

July 27

• Sunburst Beauty Pageant - Will you or your child be named the next queen or king? Every participant receives a crown and trophy!

July 28

• 5K run and walk - Experience the Ohio State Fair from end to end as you walk or jog your way past rides and animals at one the most unique 5K routes you will find, the Ohio State Fair 5K on Sunday, July 28. All participants receive free Fair admission and parking, a SkyGlider ticket and a goodie bag. Enter online in advance or on race day.

August 3

• Power lifting - This American Powerlifting League event will feature men and women from a novice skill level to master participating in bench press, deadlift and curl.  

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