Crops

Rhonda Pace, Director, 452-8082

Mike Pace, Director, 452-8763

Baled Hay Contest

Hay Contest Rules

1.       Samples must be entered at the Crops Barn at the Box Elder County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, August 24, between the hours of 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. or on Wednesday, August 25, between the hours of 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

2.       Exhibitors will compete by entering one small bale or 80 to 100 pound portion of a large bale.

3.       Three classes of hay will be accepted.

                        Lot 1: First cutting of alfalfa

                        Lot 2: Second cutting of alfalfa

                        Lot 3: Third and fourth cutting of alfalfa

4.       There is a limit of one entry per class per farm.

5.       Hay must have been grown in Box Elder County by the exhibitor.

6.       Judging will be based on :

                        a. 70% NIR Forage Analysis

                        b. 30% Hay Sensory Evaluation

7.       Entries containing noxious weeds will be disqualified.

AWARDS: Grand, Reserve, and Honorable Mention Overall; 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in each class. Premiums furnished by contest sponsors.

Rules and Regulations for Agricultural Crops

Online entry forms may be found at http://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/   Scroll down to the Box Elder County Fair option on the left-hand side of the page and then click to crop, vegetable and fruits link for the entry forms. Forms may also be picked up prior to the fair at the USU Extension office.

SEVERAL CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

1.       Exhibits will be accepted on Tuesday, August 24 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Wednesday, August 25 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

2.       Entries are restricted to residents of Box Elder County.

3.       Only one entry per person of the same kind or variety will be accepted.

4.       The entry must include the exact number of specimens as identified in the class list or it will not be accepted.

5.       All exhibits must have been grown by the exhibitor.

6.       All entries will be judged on their own merit and judging is closed to the public.

7.       All vegetables and fruit exhibits should be as near market maturity and quality and as fresh as possible. 

8.       All specimens in the exhibit should be of the same color, size, shape, maturity and variety.

9.       Specimens should be clean and free of soil and blemishes caused by insects, bruising, wind, etc.

10.   Exhibitors must be 5 years of age or older.

11.   Judging of exhibits will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 25.

12. THE SUPERVISOR WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CROP EXHIBITS OR RIBBONS UNCLAIMED BY 10:00 P.M. ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 28.

13. Class criteria are as follows:

Agricultural Crops

Lot 1 - Sheaf Grains

Sheaf grain and forage must be between 3 and 5 inches in diameter and tied at base, top and center. Entries will be accepted in the adult class only.

1.       Alfalfa                            

2.       Barley                            

3.       Corn, Silage, 5 stalks                              

4.       Corn, Grain, 5 stalks                               

5.       Oats                               

6.       Safflower, 3-5 plants, no roots                

7.       Wheat                            

8.       Other                             

Lot 2 - Seed Grain

Entries will be accepted in the adult class only.

9.       Alfalfa Seed, 1 qt.

10.   Barley, 1 qt.                               

11.   Corn, Grain, 1 qt.                                   

12.   Oats, 1 qt.                                  

13.   Safflower, 1 qt                            

14.   Wheat, 1 qt.                               

15.   Other                             

Lot 3 - Garden Produce

16.   Beans, 10

17.   Carrots, 5, 1 inch tops

18.   Cucumber, 3 slicers

19.   Peppers, 5 bell                                                               

20.   Peppers, 5 hot    

21.   Squash, 1 large winter     

22.   Squash, 2 small winter    

23.   Squash, 3 summer          

24.   Tomatoes, 5 ripe, no stems         

25.   Tomatoes, 5 mature green,  with stems attached

26.   Tomatoes, cherry/pear, 10 ripe

27.   Zucchini, 3 small 

28.   Other

Lot 4 - Garden Produce     

29.   Beets, 5, 1 inch tops                               

30.   Broccoli, 1 head                         

31.   Brussels Sprouts, 5                                 

32.   Cabbagee, 1 head                                                                      

33.   Cauliflower, 1 head                                 

34.   Corn, sweet, 5 ears                                                                    

35.   Cucumbers, 5 pickling/dill                       

36.   Eggplant, 2                                 

37.   Kohlrabi, 3, tops off                               

38.   Lettuce, 1 head                           

39.   Lettuce, leaf type, 2 bunches                   

40.   Okra, 5  

41.   Onions, 5 dry     

42.   Onions, green, 10           

43.   Parsnips, 5, 1 inch tops   

44.   Peas, 10 pods    

45.   Potatoes, 5                                             

46.   Pumpkin, 1 large, more than 8”   

47.   Pumpkin, 2 small, less than 8”     

48.   Spinach, 2 plants, no roots          

49.   Swiss Chard, 2 bunches  

50.   Tomatillos, 5       

51.   Turnips, 5, 1 inch top

Lot 5 - Herbs – Lot 3

Fresh Herbs- one bunch with 15 stems unless listed otherwise.

52.   Basil       

53.   Chives    

54.   Cilantro  

55.   Dill         

56.   Garlic, 5 bulbs    

57.   Lavender

58.   Mint       

59.   Oregano 

60.   Parsley   

61.   Sage       

62.   Thyme    

63.   Other

Lot 6 - Fruits and Nuts

64.   Apples, 5           

65.   Apricots, 5         

66.   Blackberries, 10 

67.   Cantaloupe, 1     

68.   Chokecherry, 15

69.   Currants, 15       

70.   Elderberries, 2 bunches   

71.   Grapes, 3 bunches          

72.   Honeydew, 1      

73.   Huckleberries, 15           

74.   Nectarines, 5      

75.   Peaches, 5          

76.   Pears, 5  

77.   Plums, 10           

78.   Raspberries, 10  

79.   Strawberries, 10 

80.   Walnuts, 5, last year’s crop, no husks     

81.   Watermelon, 1    

82.   Other berries, 15            

83.   Other fruits, 5     

84.   Other nuts, 10

Lot 7 - Miscellaneous

85.   Corn Indian, 3 ears         

86.   Corn, ornamental, 3 ears 

87.   Gourds, 5 small  

88.   Gourds, 3 med               

89.   Gourds, 1 large   

90.   Popcorn, 3 ears  

91.   Honey    

92.   Eggs, 1 dozen – same color        

93.   Herbs, dry - 1 pint bag

94.   Sunflower           

Lot 8 - Largest Specimen

All specimens entered in Class D. Only one 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbon will be awarded in each class. Only the lots listed will be accepted.

.

95.   Onion     

96.   Potato    

97.   Tomato  

98.   Squash, Winter   

99.   Watermelon        

100.      Pumpkin          

101.      Sunflower – Tallest plant, roots removed          

102.      Sunflowers- Largest head, stalk removed         

Lot 9 -  Special Exhibit -Limit one per family

All specimens entered in Class D.  Only one 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbon will be awarded in each class. All other entries will receive a $2.00 participant premium. 

103.      Harvest Basket - must include 6 or more classes with each meeting the individual class requirement.

104.      Garden Wreath

Lot 10 - Special Exhibit -Limit one per family

All specimens entered in Class D. Only one 1st , 2nd and 3rd place ribbon will be awarded in each class. All other entries will receive a $1.00 participant premium.

105.      Most unusual, weird, bizarre, odd, or strangest fruit or vegetable                       

106.      Produce Art – can be cut, glued and contain multiple vegetables, etc.    

Lot 11 - 4-H Let’s Get Growing Contest

Only one 1st , 2nd and 3rd place ribbon will be awarded in each class. All other entries will receive a $1.00 participant premium.

The purpose of the contest is to promote an interest in gardening for youth and have fun growing a plant typically not found in home gardens in our area. The "let's get growing" contest is open to all youth enrolled in 4-H. Each year a different plant will be sponsored and seeds provided at no charge to participants.  Seeds will be available at the USU Extension office during planting time in the spring.  At the fair there will be a class judged specific for that plant variety.  The contest is open to all registered 4-H youth.

1. Heaviest ear

2. Longest ear 

3. Uniform set of 3       

Vegetable Judging Contest

The vegetable judging contest will be held Thursday, August 26, from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the Crops Barn. This contest is open to youth ages 8-18. Participants are graded on their ability to judge multiple classes of vegetables in areas including market maturity, size, shape and absence of disease and blemishes. Age categories are as follows: Junior 8-10, Intermediate 11-13, and Senior14-18. Prizes are award in each category.

Farmers Market

The 4-H youth Farmers Market will be held on Friday, August 27, from 6-8pm outside the crops barn. This Farmers Market is designed as a venue for the 4-H youth of Box Elder County to market their gardening and horticulture projects.

Items which may be sold include garden produce, herbs, house plants, seeds and flowers. No craft items may be sold.

Participants must be a current member of 4-H. Other rules and guidelines apply and youth must pre-register. For more information visit http://extension.usu.edu/boxelder/htm/4hyouthprograms or call Rhonda Pace at 257-1271.

Thank You to our 2009 Farmers Market Sponsors!