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If you want some bragging rights for your gardening efforts, your chance is coming up this week as the Utah State Fair opens.
The exhibition's long history actually started in October of 1856, just nine years after the first settlers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley.
While there were not many exhibits, the entrants showed off their best from their farms and gardens.
Among the award recipients was the illustrious Brigham Young, who was serving as governor of the Utah Territory. He was awarded $25 for "Best Stallion" and also won first prize for the "Best Celery Exhibit."
The early territorial fairs did not have a permanent home for almost a half a century. The displays were set up at several locations, including a site at 200 S. State known as "Market Row," at 100 South and West Temple, and also at the "Tenth Ward Square," the present location of Trolley Square.
One hundred and eight years ago, the Utah Legislature purchased 65 acres of land where the Fairpark now lies. It was originally called the "Agriculture Park." A half-mile race course, livestock barns and the Horticulture Building were constructed.
I am not certain that Gov. Gary Herbert has had much time to garden this year, as Brigham Young did 154 years ago, but that need not stop you. Get out in your garden, find your best produce, clean it up and get it entered.
Having judged at the State Fair and many county fairs over the years, I see the satisfaction and even elation of those who win prizes. But I also see how many fail to place simply because they did not follow the rules or did not prepare their exhibits correctly.
Among the most common mistakes is not entering the right number of fruits or vegetables. Consult the fair book at www.utah-state-fair.com and show up with the right number. Entries without the right number of specimens are automatically disqualified from the competition.
Good quality produce for exhibition is just the same as the best produce you would like to enjoy for an excellent meal. Although there are special categories for the largest and even some of the most bizarre, in "normal" categories, judges are looking for the very best quality and appearance.
According to the official fair book, "Fruits should be large enough to meet market requirements or standards. They should not be exceptionally large. Extra-large fruits are very seldom of the highest quality in the field or orchard. Neither extra-large products nor extra-small products are wanted, and this is true of both commercial and home garden fruits."
Another reason for not winning is lack of uniformity. When I judge, I want to see produce that matches. That is far more important than slipping in your biggest peach with several other smaller ones on the plate. Consider how you would see produce displayed at a well-run stand or farmers market.
Clean the produce properly. Soil, insect or disease remains or spray residues are not going to go unnoticed, and I would award the prize to another. Spend enough time to select specimens that are free of cuts and bruises or other injuries.
Remember, to a judge, all produce is not the same. The fair has 14 lots — or kinds — of tomatoes, 17 lots of peppers and 11 lots of apples. Under each class there is also one listed as "other," in case you have something really unusual.
If your garden production has veered to the more unusual, the fair can accommodate you. You will find a spot for pistachios and figs for gardeners in the southern part of the state; elderberries for those in mountainous areas. Less common vegetables often have little competition. If you have leeks, shallots, lima beans or okra, you have a good chance at walking away with some prize money. The salsify, horseradish and rutabaga displays are also not likely to be full.
Gardeners from the high mountain valleys might want to enter peas and other cool-season crops. There is little competition because most gardens in the lower valleys have not produced any of those for months. Those with beautiful flowers have even more chances to enter. The fair hosts three flower shows, so check the website for details on when to enter.
Enter specimen flowers in the horticulture displays. Once again, there are numerous lots of roses, dahlias, gladiolus and almost any other flower we can grow here. If your talents are on the artistic side, there are numerous categories to let you show your creative side, as well.
Whether you enter or just decide to look, plan to visit the fair. It is a great way to see what can grow here and even pick up some tips on how to grow the best in your own backyard.
