Department K: Home Economics,
Garden & Farm Products

Department Rules

1. General rules of the Madison County Fair apply where applicable.
   
   
2. These Department Rules apply to all sections of Department K. Read carefully and follow all rules for all sections. Please pay attention to the numbers listed in this catalog and not a catalog from a previous year or another fair.
   
   
3. This department is divided into 14 sections and several special contests. Each sections has individual classes of entries. Exhibiters may enter only one entry per class.
   
   
4. Age divisions are (as of September 30, 2008):

5. For Jr. and Sr. Youth exhibitors, there will be a $1.00 entry fee for EACH HOME EC SECTION (not each class in a section) entered, payable during registration. Entry fees (checks) should be made payable to the Madison County Fair Board. There will be no fee for Youth 5-8, Adults, Special Citizens, or Senior Citizens, except for special contests (see individual contest rules).
   
   
6. Premiums will be paid to Jr. and Sr. Youth participants. Premiums will be: Blue: $3; Red: $2; White: $1; Best in Show: $5. No premiums will be paid for entries placing below a White Award.
   
   
7. The Home Ec Building will be cleared of all unofficial people during judging. The building will be open to the public only during designated times for security purposes.
   
   
8. All exhibits must have been completed and/or prepared by the exhibitor since the previous fair. Youth 5-8, Jr. Youth, and Special Citizens may receive help with their entries, but the work must be mostly their own.
   
   
9. There will be hostesses on duty in the building at all times. They are available to answer questions about exhibits and for security purposes.
   
   
10. Exhibits must be picked up between 2:00 & 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 20. Exhibits may not be removed earlier! Anyone removing exhibits from the building before designated times will automatically forfeit all premium money and prizes won.
    
    
11. Premium money and prizes will be given during the designated pickup time, and not before. Any items not picked up by 4:00 PM will be removed to the Madison County Cooperative Extension Office and all premiums and prizes will be forfeited. Unclaimed items may picked up during normal office hours at the Extension Office, and will be discarded after one week.
    
    
12. Any youth with twelve (12) or more entries in the Home Ec Department will receive a free T-shirt and week-long entry pass unless the exhibitor has already received a week's pass from another department.
    
    
13. Awards will be given in each section to the person in each age division who accumulates the most points. Points will be awarded as follows: Blue: 3 points, Red: 2 points, White: 1 point, Best in Show: 5 points. No points are given for any placing below White.
    
    
14. A Best of Show exhibit may be chosen in each division in each section from those receiving blue ribbons. Judges are not required to award Blue ribbons or Best in Show prizes if they do not feel that they are deserved (see Judging Standards below).
    
    
15. Exhibitors are asked to fill out the entry form provided in the catalog before registration, but forms and assistance will be available during registration.
    
    
16. Registration will be held between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14, and the Home Ec Building on the fairgrounds. Items will not be accepted after registration closes.

Judging Standards for Home Economics Departments

All items entered into the fair will be judged on the following criteria:

• Appearance: presentation, cleanliness, neatness, and design
• Workmanship
• Suitability to category
• Suitability and/or creativity of materials used

All entries will be judged against a standard of quality and creativity, and not against each other. The department judges are highly knowledgeable in their areas. The Blue Award is given to exhibitors best meeting the standard, then the Red Award, and then White. Judges are not required to give each award in a single category. Judges are allowed to give more than one award in a single category.