I've had entries at the NC State Fair. My baked goods were never good enough but I always did well in the horticulture contests. I've won blue ribbons for roses and ivy. Numerous second and thirds too. I entered for several years but haven't done so in awhile.
My biggest win came quite unexpectedly. I had never made jam although my mother used to make tons of strawberry jam when we were growing up. I thought I'd try to make some jam. My fav is red raspberry but the nectarines looked really good that year so I concocted a raspberry/nectarine jam. I thought it was pretty good for my first ever jam so I added it into my usual horticulture entries for the fair. My mom was entering baked goods (which she does well in) so we were over in that building anyhow.
So a week later we are at the Fair to see how we did. Mom took a 3rd for pound cake. My rose won a blue ribbon so I was happy. I figured my jam probably didn't do well - going up in a tough category (Jams - other. meaning basically not strawberry! LOL) and going against these canners who have been doing it all their lives. So we are looking at the rows of jars, some with ribbons and some without. Mine is no where to be seen. I thought, gee....it was so bad that they tossed it? No, I thought it was good. It WAS good. We ask the lady who was helping run the exhibit and explained to her that I couldn't find my entry. She asks my name and her face lights up! "Oh, it's right over here on the winners table!". and so it was, with a huge blue ribbon on it and a list of judges comments that made me blush with pride. My jam, my first ever jam won the jam division. It was (for me) EPIC!!!!
So, even if you are a novice and think you can't go against those farm wives or the professionals - think again!
