Competitions

Led by skilled adult volunteers of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County, diverse youth from Columbia County exhibit their club creations and project work or show their livestock in friendly competition throughout the 6-day fair. For information, visit http://ccecolumbiagreene.org/4-h-and-youth-development

Lager, stout, red or white…who will win best of show for overall outstanding amateur beer, wine, or cider? Our contest is open to any amateur wine, beer or cider maker, 21 years or older, who lives within 50 miles of Chatham, NY.

The best of the best farm tractors come out for thirteen classes of weights from 2,500 lbs to 11,500 lbs to battle for the best pull. Relax in the grandstand and see what these classic tractors can do!

From Angus to Herefords, from Shorthorn to Simmental, the region’s best beef cattle vie to win the championship.

Simon Cowell watch out! Columbia County residents of all ages perform talents of dance, singing, and instrumental in adult, teen and junior divisions for prizes.

From Holstein and Ayrshires to Milking Shorthorns and Jerseys, and from Guernseys to Brown Swiss, the region’s dairy cattle draw admiring glances.

The Demolition Derby Finale: Bring out your old 6 and 8 cylinders and full-size pick-ups and vans and run hard for the cash purse of $1,400. Best Appearance Theme: Scooby-Doo!

Got road rage?You might want to get in on a night of crashin’, smashin’ action at the Demolition Derby! Enter your old 4 cylinders, mini vans, mini pick-ups and mini SUVs to win the cash purse of $1,400. Best Appearance Theme: Pokemon!

Showcasing everything from floral arrangements to baked goods to crafts and pottery. The fair’s domestic arts and crafts exhibits are greatly expanded this year, nestled in Four Corners Hall. Categories include: Canning; Baking; Fine Arts; Weaving/Basketry/Woodwork; Flowers; Hobbies/Crafts; Needlework; and Youth Division.

This could get sticky… but let’s get creative, and we mean really creative. Make accessories, houseware items, or clothing from 75% duct tape. Yes, good ole duct tape, of any color. As seen on the fashion runaways…it can be done!

Enter the fruits of your labor! The Fruits competition has more than 40 classes of everything from apples and pears to strawberries and more, all judged by freedom of blemishes, color, size, form, and condition.

Move over Cinderella, you have competition! Our giant pumpkin contest hands out prizes to the largest pumpkins grown in Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Dutchess and Berkshire Counties. Minimum pumpkin weight is 75lbs to compete.

Collective exhibits by Granges, Youth and Pomona Granges of farm and garden produce, fruit, baked goods, vegetables, canned goods, grains and grasses, poultry, dairy products, honey, sewing and needlework. Scoring of exhibits is based on magnetism, freshness and perfection produce and display appearance.

Our annual ice cream eating contest welcomes all takers – men, women and children. All they need is a hearty appetite and a love of ice cold ICE CREAM. It’s great fun and gives new meaning to the phrase “brain-freeze.”

Calling all amateur shutter bugs! Whether you enjoy photographing landscapes or livestock, people or parades, display your best shot taken in Columbia County. Cash prizes and ribbons are awarded by a panel of professional photographers based on creativity, composition, impact, story-telling, technical quality, and presentation. Professionals may submit photographs for display but are not eligible to compete.

From American Standards to Bantams, from Geese to Turkeys, this bunch is really something to cluck about.

With 18 entry categories, submissions range from the simple to the complex, and include original designs as well as such traditional patterns as the Log Cabin, Morning Star, Ohio Star, Trip Around the World, Double Irish Chain, and Triple Irish Chain.

Creative and unique scarecrows of all kinds decorate and add life to the Fair. Scarecrows are judged for originality, design, creativity, durability and neatness.

Tradition marches on as young students compete in the 82nd annual Columbia County School Queen Contest. With judging based on personality, poise, and appearance, contestants from all-six public schools in the county vie for cash prizes in this competition filled with school spirit.

A trip to the fair isn’t complete without visiting the little Red School House, with its grand display of art work by area students. A favorite must-see exhibit, all local schools participate, pre-school youngsters through high school seniors.

Premiums awarded by to any Columbia County unit of the Boy Scouts of America for the best Troop Exhibit and Outdoor Exhibit, in three classes for boys, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers and six classes for girls, Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, Ambassadors.

Two dozen breeds, from the better known Shetland and Merino to the more exotic Tunis and Ramboullet, fill the sheep pens.

Our Sunflower contest will be sure to put a smile on your face as we give out prizes for the tallest sunflower plant, the largest sunflower head and most sunflowers on one stalk.

Get your sweet tooth on and enter the new Cookie Contest!  Kids and adults of any age, inexperienced and experienced bakers are all eligible to enter (well maybe not Martha Stewart, haha). All baked goods must be made in a home kitchen and all entries must have one key ingredient in the recipe…chocolate chips! Can you say YUMMMMMMMM?

Vegetables from B to T (basil to turnip) will be on display in Harvest Hall. Enter to win, or simply enjoy the healthy bounty harvested by our local neighbors.

The one and only eating contest that’s good for your diet. How fast can you eat a slice of melon? If you’re the fastest in your age group, you will be awarded a trophy. Maybe you’ll be top seed.

After the kids get through playing with the little lambs in the sheep barn, they can see finished wool products beautifully displayed.