PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: Becky Brashear, CFE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2003

Entries accepted on-line
Farm and Garden Entry Times Change in 2003

FREDERICK, MD.– The Great Frederick Fair’s exhibit entry times in the Farm and Garden Building will be drastically different for the 2003 fair, "A Country Tradition in the Heart of the City," Sept. 12-20, 2003.

In an effort to allow the public greater access to the best Frederick County has to offer, the Farm and Garden Department will be accepting exhibits in Building 14A from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, and from 4-9 p.m.. Friday, Sept. 12. Judging in that building will be held Saturday, Sept. 13, with the building opening to the public at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Beer and wine entries will be accepted on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 1-5 p.m.

"We wanted all of the building exhibits to be open to the public by Saturday afternoon," explained Clyde Crum, chairman of the Farm and Garden Committee. "This meant entries in the Farm and Garden Building had to be in earlier to allow time for judging before the building opened. The entries times for the Household Building did not change."

New this year, "Ask the Judge" will give the public the opportunity to learn about the judging process in the Farm and Garden Department. Farm and garden judges will be on hand in Building 14A on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions.

Exhibitors planning to enter items other than baked goods in the Household Department at Building 9 can do so from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 and 2-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11. Baked goods entries will be accepted from 2-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. Baked goods will be judged at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. The building opens to the public at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Be sure to read the rules and regulations in detail as there are some entering requirements for the Household Department.

Pre-registration in the Household and Farm and Garden Buildings is not required. However, exhibitors can enter on-line in both divisions at www.thegreatfrederickfair.com. Those who enter on-line will be able to enter their items through an express line when items are dropped off on entry days.

4-H'ers planning to enter items in the indoor 4-H Building (Building 12) should consult the fair catalog for specifics on entry times and dates, and special rules, regulations.

A fee is charged for entries in the open class Household and Farm and Garden Departments with a fair pass given in exchange. Consult the fair catalog for specifics on the number of items entered allowed per ticket and entry fees.

Open class livestock exhibitors can enter on-line for The Great Frederick Fair, The Maryland State Fair and the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair on one form. Open class livestock are the only entries that can take advantage of this feature.

Fair participants are strongly encouraged to read the rules and regulations to abide by for entry dates and times and class entries.

All of the entry dates, times and rules and regulations appear in the fair’s catalog which is available from the fair’s Administration Office, your local library, or the fair’s website at www.thegreatfrederickfair.com.

Livestock times and dates vary; consult the fair catalog for specifics. Entry forms for all open class livestock must be submitted to the fair office by August 15.

All premiums for each exhibitor will be combined into one check and mailed immediately following the fair.

At last year's fair, over 1300 exhibitors entered more than 3000 exhibits in the 4-H and open class farm and garden department, and 3000 exhibitors entered more than 4000 exhibits in the household department. In the 4-H Building, 1400 exhibitors entered nearly 4000 exhibits.

"These three buildings contain wonderful examples of hand-made and home-grown items," Crum said. "Our fair is full of the best our county has to offer."

For additional information on entry times, contact the fair office at 301-663-5895 or the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service, Frederick County Office, at 301-694-1594.

The Household Building will feature demonstrations throughout the week by members of the Frederick County Homemaker Clubs. Demonstrations focusing on herbs, honey extraction, wool dyeing and spinning, corsage making and dried flowers will be featured in the Farm and Garden Building. Complete demonstration schedules will be posted at each building fairweek.