Competitive Arts General Rules

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this website. However, exhibitors are cautioned that the current rules and regulations of the State Fair Park Authority, as interpreted by Fair Management and the Board of Directors, will take precedence over this listing due to the possibility of typographical error or inadvertent omission.

In the event of conflict between the general rules and the special rules governing the various departments, the special rules will take precedence.

The Board reserves the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and regulations and to settle and determine all matters, questions and differences in regard thereto, or otherwise arising out of, connected with or incident to the Fair.

The Board reserves the right to amend or add to these rules, as it, in its judgment, may deem necessary.

All prizes will be awarded at the earliest possible date after judging. Checks not cashed within 90 days of issue date will become void.

1. No judge will be allowed to exhibit in the department in which he/she is acting as a judge.

2. A judge will not be allowed to judge exhibits entered by a member of his or her immediate family. The judge should notify the department supervisor prior to judging if this situation occurs.

3. Judges must avoid contact with the exhibitors and will refuse to hear the merits or demerits of exhibits upon which they will be expected to pass judgment. They must, if an attempt is made by an exhibitor to interfere or influence their decision, report the fact at once to the Department Supervisor.

4. The regular premium offered by the Fair cannot be changed by any judge or supervisor and no extra premiums can be awarded except by the Fair Board. In the event there is no competition in class numbers, the judge shall determine which award the entry would receive in the face of competition. In no event will two entries by the same owner or producer constitute competition.

5. Judges must not award prizes to an unworthy exhibit. It is the intention of the management that no premium or distinction of any kind shall be given to any article that is not deserved. This rule must be strictly adhered to whether or not there is competition.

6. Judges and clerk assistants need to carefully enter the award on the judging sheet after it’s been made, as premium payment depends on this entry.

7. The judge, superintendent and clerk recording the awards of the department, must sign the judging sheets at the close of each show.

8. The entry clerk shall under no circumstances allow the judging sheets to go from his/her possession, or to be inspected by anyone, except authorized officers, until entries of the judge's decisions have been made, the records audited and closed.

9. The judges shall read carefully the general rules and all special rules under the heading of the department or class in which they are to judge; and especially note and mark those rules bearing on the classes to be adjudicated by them. Ignorance of rules is inexcusable with a judge.

10. Before any award is made, objections to a judge must be submitted to Fair Management, providing valid and sufficient reasons.

11. An Exhibitor acting improperly towards fair officials may be barred from competition or exhibiting until making restitution and receiving a reinstatement from the Fair Board.

1. Competition at the Utah State Fair is governed by the State Fair Park Authority general rules and regulations as well as the special rules in each department.

2. Exhibitors shall complete online entry forms through a link provided on utahstatefair.com. Online entries are strongly encouraged as it helps streamline check-ins and allows Fair Management to properly prepare for the Fair. Exhibitors can also complete an entry form provided by Fair Management when entering exhibit items in the Fair. Entry forms may be photocopied, but not reproduced in any other manner. The exhibitor shall pay an entry charge as published (see Competitive Arts Entry Information). Payment of entry charge must accompany entry form. No refunds will be made on entry fees.

3. Submission of the entry form by the exhibitor constitutes a contractual agreement between the exhibitor and The Utah State Fair, signifying the exhibitor’s acknowledgement and acceptance of rules and eligibility for prize awards provided by The Utah State Fair.

4. Entry form and applicable charges must be submitted by dates listed for each department.

5. When sufficient entries are received in any department to fill the space available, no further entries will be accepted.

6. When an exhibitor in Creative Arts, Fiber Arts, Culinary Arts,, Fine Arts, Photography, Floriculture and Agriculture/Horticulture enters exhibits at the Fair, an entry tag shall be placed on the exhibits and the claim checks shall be furnished to the exhibitor. At the close of the Fair, on published release dates, the claim check shall be presented to the Fair by the exhibitor for reclaiming the item. Items entered in the Horticulture and Agriculture departments as well as perishables in Culinary Arts shall become property of the Utah State Fair and will not be returned to the exhibitor unless prior approval has been made in writing with the department supervisor. All perishable items will be sprayed in clear coating after judging has finished.

7. A protest against judging, exhibitor handbook rules, exhibition of displays, damage to an exhibit or a disagreement with Fair personnel, shall be made in writing to Fair Management, stating the exact reason for the complaint. The Executive Director, his/her designee and/or the Board of Directors shall consider and act on the complaint.

8. Upon request, exhibitors may view the official entry and judge's forms in the Administration office one month after the conclusion of the Fair but prior to December 31st of that year.

9. Every exhibit must remain intact until 10:00 p.m., Sunday, September 15, 2024, unless otherwise specified.

10. Articles may only be entered by the owner, owner's representative, or producer, unless alternative arrangements are specified. Any attempt to engage in fraudulent misrepresentation will disqualify the entry from competing for any ribbons, premiums, trophies or prizes.

11. Department supervisors may remove any exhibit from the competition that is falsely entered or which may be deemed unsuitable or objectionable.

12. Any article that meets the eligibility criteria but is not specifically listed in the department catalog will be categorized in the appropriate class by either the department supervisor or the judge.

13. If it is necessary for an exhibitor to send an exhibit freight or express, it must be sent prepaid to the Fair Administration Office. The exhibitor must also include freight/shipping fees to send the item back. In most cases we ship items back in their original packaging unless other packaging is provided.

14. Anyone requesting new categories or classes for inclusion in future Fair Books shall submit, in writing, a request to the Competitive Arts department by January 8th. Final action on the request shall be taken by the Executive Director, his/her designee and/or the Fair Board.

15. Entries will not be allowed to be displayed with the merits of the item displayed during judging. This however will be allowed to be displayed after judging is finalized per the Department supervisors discretion.

16. Please refer to the Department you are entering in the Fairbook to confirm entry division.

17. Entries are classified in the following order with definitions:

Department: Defined by the art you are entering

Exhibitors may purchase a season pass for $60.00 and/or a one day pass for $9. Discounted tickets will not be available after exhibit intake dates.