The 31st annual NC Mountain State Fair is September 5th-14th, 2025. This event brings fun for the whole family, with rides, food, games, shows and more! But did you know that you can be part of the fair by entering things that you have made? There are 18 general exhibit categories just for youth ages 6-19 and even categories for youth ages 5 and under!

Check out the categories below and show off your creativity by entering the fair today!

Rules for Participation:

• North Carolina Residents Only: Division I competitions are open exclusively to NC residents.
• Online Entries Only: All entries must be submitted through our online form. Be sure to fill it out completely and accurately.
  • Enter using your own name (not a parent’s or guardian’s).
  • Use your mailing address only—this ensures we can reach you if needed.
  • Don’t forget your full contact info, including area code!

Ready to Register? Next Steps:

Registration Deadline – Friday, August 22nd

1. Once you have found the category(s) that interest you, open the 2025 Catalog
2. Use the table of contents to find the category(s) you are interested in
3. Read the rules and regulations regarding the category(s)
4. Click the link below to begin the online registration using ShoWorks

Click here to complete your registration!

What can I enter in the fair?

General Exhibit Categories – Ages 6-19

Youth Horticultural Products

• Fruit and Pod Vegetables (green beans, peppers, tomatoes, etc.)
• Leafy Stem and Headed Vegetables (corn, etc.)
• Root Bulb and Tuber Vegetables (carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, etc.)
• Vine Vegetables (squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, watermelons, etc.)
• Ornamental Vegetables (gourds, decretive corn, etc.)
• Fruits (apples, grapes, berries, etc.)
• Fruit, Vegetable & Gourd Arrangements – Prepare a basket that you would take to a neighbor or friend sharing your garden harvest
• Large Vegetables/Fruits: Largest – pumpkin, watermelon, sunflower head, gourd, potato or tomato

Youth Agronomic Products

• Hay
• Field Corn
• Silage
• Sugarcane
• Processed Molasses

Youth Art

• 2D Art
  • Acrylic
  • Printing (Block Print, Stamping, Rubbings)
  • Digital (any work with aid of computer & printer)
  • Color Pencil
  • Crayon
  • Mixed Media
  • Oil
  • Pastels (soft and oil)
  • Pen & Ink
  • Black & White Drawing (pencil or charcoal)
  • Tempera Paints
  • Watercolor
• 3D Art
  • Clay
  • Wire
  • Stone
  • Mixed Media
  • Fiber Art

Youth Photography

• Color Prints
  • Agriculture Related
  • Plants & Flowers
  • Animals/Insects in nature
  • Animals – pers, tames, domesticated
  • Landscape – nature, scenic
  • Landscape – architectural, abstract
  • People & Portraits
  • 2024 Photography of the NC Mountain State Fair
  • Story Telling Sequence (4)
  • Computer altered, edited, use of filters or other techniques
• Black & White
  • Agriculture Related
  • Plants & Flowers
  • Animals/Insects in nature
  • Animals – pers, tames, domesticated
  • Landscape – nature, scenic
  • Landscape – architectural, abstract
  • People & Portraits
  • 2024 Photography of the NC Mountain State Fair
  • Story Telling Sequence (4)
  • Computer altered, edited, use of filters or other techniques

Youth Baked Foods

• Breads, Rolls, Muffins, Quick Breads, Biscuits
• Cakes, Pies
• Decorated Cakes, Cupcakes
• Cookies
• Candy (fudge, mints, etc.)

Youth Preserved Foods

• Canned Fruits (applesauce, peaches, etc.)
• Canned Vegetables (tomatoes, tomato juice, beans, etc.)
• Dried Fruits, Vegetables, Herbs
• Jelly from home-prepared juice
• Preserves
• Jam or Butter
• Pickles, Relish
• Sauces

Youth Crafts

• General
  • Toothpick Art
  • Household Accessories
  • Silk Arrangement
  • Tie Dying
  • Toys
  • Wall Handing
  • Beadwork
  • Key Chains
  • Hair Accessories
  • Clothes Pin Art
  • Button Art
• 3D Crafts
  • Candle Making
  • Ceramics
  • Pottery
  • Metal Crafts
  • Paper Crafts
  • Plaster Crafts
  • Plastic Crafts
  • Painted Rocks
  • Yard Art
• Stuffed Articles
  • Sewn stuffed articles
  • Hand knitted/crocheted
  • Toys
  • Household Accessories
• Needle/Hand Crafts
  • Cross Stitch
  • Embroidered/Needlepoint Items
  • Leather Crafts
  • Latch Hook
  • Stenciling
  • Diamond Art
• Sewn (Machine or Hand)
  • Housewares
  • Accessories (wearable or non)
• Knitted & Crocheted
  • Accessories
  • Housewares
• Quilted (Machine or Hand)
• Holiday or Seasonal Decorations
  • Fall -Wreath, Centerpiece
  • Christmas – Wreath, Centerpiece, Ornaments, Stocking, Apron, Tree Skirt, Tree Topper
  • Table Runner
  • Autumn Decoration
  • Spring Decoration
  • Summer Decoration
  • Winter Decoration
• Tin Punch
  • Flat Sheet
  • 3D Object
• Duct Tape
  • Wall Hanging
  • Floral Arrangement
  • Christmas Ornament
  • Wallet/Purse
  • Hair Accessory
  • Jewelry

Youth Clothing

• Sewn – Garment, Outfit, Costume, etc.
• Knitted & Crocheted – Garment, Outfit, Accessories

Youth Quilted Items

• Wall Hanging
• Bed/Lap Quilt

Youth Hand Weaving & Spinning

• Spinning, Weaving & Felting

Youth Jewelry

• Beaded
• Wire
• Recyclables
• Clay
• Clay Beads
• Braided/Woven
• Rings

Youth Wood Crafts

• Wood burning, carving, working, bird feeders, etc.

Youth Building Blocks

• Kits – Plastic, wooden, plastic connectors, metal, etc.
• Non-kits – Plastic, wooden, plastic connectors, etc.

Youth Recycling

• Toys, Art/Decor, Yard Art, Accessories, etc.

Youth Flower & Garden

• Container Grown Flowering Annuals
• Container Grown Flowering Perennials
• Container Grown Culinary Herbs
• Container Grown- Fairy Garden, Terrarium, etc.
• Largest Grown Elephant Leaf
• Misc. Floral Items

Youth Models

• Kits – auto, planes, trains, boats, spaceships, etc.
• Non-kits – auto, planes, trains, boats, spaceships, etc.

Youth Table Setting

• Indoor/Outdoor Casual
• Indoor/Outdoor Formal

Youth Penmanship

• Alphabet
• Cursive Writing

Non-competitive – Ages 5 and Under

• Seed, Button and/or Bead Art
• Jewelry Exhibit
• Art Exhibits – coloring page, painted, drawn, string art, etc.
• Craft Exhibit
• Horticultural
• Village Model
• Painted Rock
• Yard Art

Youth Very Special Arts

Competition for this category is limited to individuals with special disabilities, ages 6 and older

• Floral Design
• Flower & Garden
• Best Decorated Pumpkin or Gourd
• Shoe Box Parade Float
• Baked Foods
• Art
• Photography
• Crafts

Need help?

For assistance with completing your registration, contact Jordan English at Jordan_english@ncsu.edu or 828-255-5522.

Youth are also invited to attend one of our 4-H Summer Fair Crafting Workshops!

Cloverbud Fair Crafting Workshop

• Cloverbuds (ages 5-8) will have the opportunity to explore their creativity as they pick an arts & crafts project to make and enter in the WNC Mountain State Fair!
• August 6
• 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• $15/pp
• Ages 5-8
• What to bring: water bottle, close-toe shoes
• Location: Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office

Fair Crafting Workshop

• Youth will have the opportunity to explore their creativity as they pick an arts & crafts project to make and enter in the WNC Mountain State Fair!
• August 18
• 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• $15/pp
• Ages 9-18
• What to bring: water bottle, close-toe shoes
• Location: Buncombe County Cooperative Extension Office