It’s here! The Plumas Sierra County Fair Exhibit Guide
By John Steffanic
Plumas Sierra County Fair Manager
You know the county fair is on the way when you see the annual exhibit guide. It used to be called the premium book decades ago, but now the title is more indicative of what it is. It is a list of things that local residents make, grow or raise that are entered for judging to establish who grows the best zucchini, paints the best picture, grows the best spider plant, sews the best quilt or makes the best jelly. It is a tradition going back hundreds of years and it is your opportunity to keep that tradition alive.
The steps are simple; browse the exhibit guide, decide what you might like to enter, fill out the entry form, turn it in to the Fair office by the deadline, (most are July 7, many of the Floriculture entries are due just the week before the Fair), and then bring your physical entries to the Fair on the dates shown in the guide. Most entries cost only a couple of bucks and you can win a couple of bucks more, plus a ribbon!
There are many categories that are not what some people would think of at a Fair. There are certainly the classics; jelly, baked goods, zucchini, flowers and needlepoint. But there are also divisions that are unique, and might not require a particular aptitude to enter. There is a Division for Giftwrapping. Do you write poetry? Enter your poems. Grow a garden in a box. The Fair actually provides the box, so all you have to do is pick it up, put some soil in it, grow the plants and bring your box to the fair for judging and display. You can enter soap or candles you have made. You can decorate a cake, pie or confection, even if you didn’t make it, the judging is on the decoration. Enter jerky, or salsa. Crochet a rug, sew a Christmas tree skirt. There are categories for all these.
If you have an African Violet, or a cactus, or a Boston Fern that thrives in your home, please share it with everyone by entering it in the Floriculture Building. Some people don’t have a green thumb, but love plants. There are several divisions for silk or dried flower arranging. Finally, everyone should know that to enter something from your garden, you only have to turn in an entry form the Friday before the Fair. Perhaps it is some cut flowers, or some fresh carrots or onions. Don’t forget about the oddities; largest vegetable, oddest shaped vegetable or the heaviest tomato. These are all things the public needs to see!
Printed Exhibit Guides are available at all Plumas Bank branches and public libraries. Copies can also be picked up at the Fair Office. A downloadable version is available on the Fair website; www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net. The Fair has also taken the extra step of breaking the book down by sections for those that still have dial up and don’t necessarily need the entire book. Livestock entries are due on June 30 and most all other entries are due July 7.
The 2023 Plumas Sierra County Fair will be held July 27 through July 30 in Quincy, California. This year, the Fair Board extended an invitation to the community to offer suggestions for a fair theme. The cover of the exhibit guide is filled with some of the many ideas submitted. From these, the Fair Board decided on “Stars, Stripes and Summer Nights” as the theme for this year’s fair. It was submitted by Lisa Tanner, a regular exhibitor at the Fair.
