Asheville – The catalog for the 2025 North Carolina Mountain State Fair has been released. Although the fair will not take place until September 5-14, now is the time to begin preparing items for entry into the fair’s numerous competitions.
Gone are the days when someone could grow a giant watermelon and simply bring it to the fair to compete for a ribbon. Today, contestants must fill out forms to preregister, risking rejection if their category fills up before they can enter.
Deadlines for nearly all divisions are in August. The Ice Cream Eating Contest and the Mullett & Stache Show, which in a unique way celebrate North Carolina’s growers, will only accept day-of-show contestants who have completed their paperwork.
Prizes typically amount to $10 for a blue ribbon, but in some categories, winners can receive up to $300. The rules for most contests state that prizes may not be awarded if no entries meet the required standards.
Baking cookies is not a two-month project, but some categories require prior planning. For instance, one competition requires entrants to demonstrate their skills in nursery and landscaping by laying out a 10-foot square garden. Rules are strict regarding the exclusion of endangered or invasive species and hemp. Flowers cannot be dyed, and night lighting must be provided according to specifications. All plants must be in containers, among other requirements. Entries in the honey and honey products contest must adhere to strict guidelines concerning color, moisture, uniformity of appearance, freedom from contaminants, capping, and more.
There are contests for approximately 50 different types of vegetables and 17 varieties of apples. Beauty contests are even held for hay, alfalfa, fescue, orchard grass, and Timothy grass. Other contests focus on fruits, canned goods, and baked goods. For the cake decoration contest, it is recommended that icing be applied to foam since the cakes must remain on display throughout the fair.
Craft contests award prizes for photography, painting and drawing, quilting, weaving, spinning, sewing, doll-making, woodworking, flower arrangement, jewelry making, a wide range of fiber arts, village modeling, hay baling, scarecrow craft, and duct tape art.
Certain booths are also eligible for awards. These include displays from community groups like Rotary and Boy Scouts. Retirement and assisted living facilities can enter a competition showcasing the arts and crafts created by their residents for the fair. The Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair is hosting a competition for handmade hats made for donation to patients at the Messino Cancer Center. Novant Health is collecting homemade blankets and quilts that will also compete for prizes before being donated to Messino.
Youth may participate in their own “league” in many of the same categories, with notable additions such as table settings and handwriting. There are also “leagues” for seniors, special-needs children, and children under five.
Nine agricultural groups are sponsoring the cooking contests, ranging from the NC Cattlemen’s Beef Council to the NC Sweet Potato Commission. Contestants will compete for cash prizes of $200 (first place in the sweet potato event is slightly higher) by cooking original recipes entirely from scratch. Regardless of whether a contestant wins, their recipe will become the property of the sponsoring agricultural group and the NC Mountain State Fair.
Miscellaneous contests include gospel singing, where originality is highly valued and performers must adhere to a strict schedule or risk disqualification. A large turnout is expected for the Clogging Championship.
While the fair celebrates the time and talents of growers and craftspeople, one competition stands out as particularly whimsical. No pre-registration is required; the first 20 participants in each age category will race to see who can eat ice cream the fastest—not the most colossally. Adults must consume a full pint. However, “In case of a tie, there will be a second round for the contestants in question.”