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Actual State Fair of Virginia competitions: Perfect grilled cheese, duct tape design

Crystal Graham

state fair of virginia If you have a competitive spirit, the State Fair of Virginia offers a place to showcase your unique talents with everything from a perfect grilled cheese sandwich to intricate cut flowers, and even, duct tape.

Competition categories are open for both adults and youth, as well as 4-H and FFA. Competition guides for creative and culinary arts as well as horticulture and field crops were released today.

“We’re excited about the diversity of all the competition categories, and we know our competitors enjoy the creative outlet that these contests afford them,” said Sarah Jane Thomsen, the fair’s manager of agriculture education. “We also are happy to offer ribbons or prize money, but all of them get bragging rights.”

This year’s culinary contests include a live grilled cheese judging on Sept. 29.

Another culinary category is charcuterie boards. Entrants will prepare a charcuterie board on Oct. 2 using at least six items that are grown or processed in Virginia.

There are three new food competitions this year: the Virginia Potatoes recipe contest, the Virginia Home Grown Vegetable casserole contest and the Sabra Hummus recipe contest.

Creative arts categories include traditional jewelry making, painting, photography, quilting, sculpture and woodcrafts.

The 2024 State Fair of Virginia will run from Sept. 27 through Oct. 6 at The Meadow Event Park in Doswell.

Most entries are due early in September.

Competition information is available at StateFairVa.org.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.