Do you love gardening? Are you a competitive person? Then entering your vegetables, fruits, and flowers in a county or state fair might be just the thing for you. This statement may seem a bit nostalgic or “redneck” but trust me on this one.
County and state fairs are most often associated in people’s minds with 4-H, rodeos, carnival rides and lots of fried food. But there’s so much more to the fair, and some people take fair competitions very, very seriously, especially when it comes to growing giant vegetables and fruit. Every year, Guinness World records are set and broken for the heaviest and largest produce, from pumpkins the size of Cinderella’s carriage and marrows (a mature courgette) that weigh more than a hippopotamus to a 7-pound 14-ounce grapefruit and a leek tall enough to ride a roller coaster. In Alaska, growing conditions come together just right to produce some of the most renowned giant vegetables in the country, and they are certainly proud of this tradition (alaskastatefair.org/site/giant-fruit-vegetable-records).
County fair horticultural competitions are an excellent outlet for honing your home gardening skills, vying for small monetary prizes, garnering bragging rights, and, of course, having some wholesome fun. Vegetables are typically judged on their quality, freshness and size or weight, but every fair is slightly different. Check your fair’s entry rules and guidelines each year for submission and display details as well as any associated entry fees and deadlines. Fees are usually reasonable and contribute to ribbons and premium checks.
Regardless of where your produce ends up in the ranking, judges will often provide helpful feedback for improving your garden next year. Prizes can be seed money for your next competition, and browsing the exhibits can stimulate your imagination for what you can grow in your garden and how to grow bigger, better vegetables. If you’re serious enough, maybe one day you’ll find Guinness knocking on your door. Green thumb goals! N
As seen in the 2026 Winter/Spring edition
By: S. Michal Bennett
