Gee, I am not sure where to start, lol. I started entering fairs in 7th grade in the Home Ec class, I am now 48. First, and foremost, get a Premium Book from the fair you are entering, if it is over this year you may be able to get an extra one to study in preparation for next year. Some, are available online. Secondly, as I understand it, the Land Grant College of Mass is the University of Mass in Amherst. The land grant colleges of the United States are the Universities who have been granted Cooperative Extension Services. There you will find alot of information about agricultural and fair competition. The 4-H department has phamplets for this purpose for the different clubs to educate the youngsters. When entering last year I felt sorry for some newbies who didn't read up and were not allowed to enter do to incorrect jar size, glued on top covers, travelling distances only to find out that fair required bands on the canned goods. Unlike the fair Shirley enters there is no rule for label placement for me, although I place mine on the bottom for single competition and place on the side for display competition (the ones on trays/baskets like Dave mentioned). The 5 pickled competition is tough for tray size 15 inches max. That is exactly 5 pint jars lined up. I won blue last year, the colors were awesome I must admit, sweet gerkins, garlic dills, pickled cauliflower, 3 bean salad and pickled red cabbage. The Ball writing on the lids were perfectly aligned with the embossing of the Vintage clear jars I used. That's another tip, only clear/shiny clean jars is the standard. I use either vinegar or Borax to wipe down. Food coloring is usually not allowed. I may chance it with the Lavendar jelly this year to get a nicer violet color. Other standards are correct head space for the product canned, following USDA Guidelines, no floating fruit or veggies, good seal. Last year was the first year the jam/jelly judge opened lids for correct jell set on the jams and jellies, but did not taste product. I can sympathize with that after being a judge years ago for an apple/pumpkin baking contest. Went home and pucked for hours, to this day can't stand cream cheese frosting. Fresh veggies, you would surely be wise to get the 4-H information on the cut stem sizes for peppers, beets, pumpkins, eggplants, etc.... All specimens should be of the same uniform size, free of insects, insect or mechanical damage (ie: bruising when transported).Some veggies you shine, others you don't. Many fairs have weird /odd, giant veggie categories. New Jersey gives Trophies for the largest weight maters. Baked goods is another category for the Ag Department if you bake. Zucchini bread and Blueberry muffins are the toughest categories here. Hort Department, I have to agree about the other forums. Although, that is how I started entering, have a zillion blue ribbons for my floral specimens and can pick a blue ribbon zinna in the dark, that would make this post too lengthy. Lastly, HAVE FUN!

Sending wishes for four special ladies: Carol, congratulations on the new baby in the family and hope you are feeling better now that your meds have caught up to you. Susie and Anita, prayers for you that you will be better soon. Sassy, I'm hoping the situation with you brother has improved. Take care of yourselves! The sun has been out here the last two days which is helping. We had bad storms the day before that. We have been getting rain regularly since January and I guess we forgot about the problems it brings - my winter sown containers get flooded and then I spend a few days completely taking the tops off in the daytime so they can dry out a bit and recovering them at night. At least I don't seem to have lost anything yet. However, now that I have planted over 100 containers, it is quite a project! Actually, most of the milk jugs seem to be able to handle the rain, it's all my smaller "use anything style" containers that are having the bad problems. I will definitely save the milk jugs to use again next year. Actually, we go through lots of milk at our house but nearly all the milk jugs now are opaque rather than transparent so there are only a few that we can save. Sometimes I cut the whole top off the opaque ones and try to use them, but then the plastic that I put over the top does not hold up well to the heavy rain. I use rubber bands to attach plastic to the top of the container and those seem to snap apart every few days. Maybe eventually I will get just the right set up. However, the plants in the ground are happy as can be and I will have wonderful displays of daffodils and tulips this year. Will have to post pictures soon. Jeanne

Hello ladies and happy every Holiday I missed. To those of you who do know me, I am back and mentally back on track (I think). To those of you who don't, well I was I am a member, love everyone here. Went away to do some great mission work and had some very tragic things happen. Many hours of therapy later, and actually returning to the Dominican I think I have healed, I am not bitter, sad, or frightened to leave my house any more. I am able to talk about it and I feel that I can share with postive feelings now. But enough of that. Am I to late for April? Please tell me that I can play in April? Max is 4 and we just looked at Co-op preschool. HE is a mama's boy and didn't want to go to big boy school yet. Maryanne~ I have a box for you that I need to send, but um lost your address.. So Merry Christmas when it comes. Ahh. I just don't know what to say or who to say it to because I am scared I will leave someone out. I tried to read as many posts as my brain can handle, but I am sure that I will need some help. Babies and ornaments, tornados and ahhh.. I am not in Kansas anymore. Please feel free to email me with any personals that you'd love to share. I apologize for being gone so long. If there is anything that you want to know email me. If I need to re-join let me know if there is room. Mayanne_ my big sis.. I hope all is well, miss you and thanks for all your support thru this, even though I was a bad lil sis and became an introvert. But guess what? I am back and better. Missed you all Laura.... beans

Thanks for all the congratulations! I have to say - while i don't live in a small town, I do live in a small community. DH and I went to run our errands, including stopping at the bank to get my affidavit notarized. 5 employees all looked up and greeted us by name. I held up my paper and said I needed a notary, and three said "I can do that!!". We went with Kathy, the bank manager, got my signature notarized, and actually spent another 15 or so minutes just chatting. She was so happy for me winning the prize, and wants to know what-all is in the gift basket. It turns out she has made 2 baby quilts. Who knew? Now she's entering the contest! I like having been in this small place for nearly 25 years, and knowing my bank's employees. Oh, and I will definitely be posting pictures of the stuff