Deadline approaching for Creative Arts Contest, County Fair entries

The Young County Junior Livestock Show Creative Arts Contest and County Fair are taking off next month and registration is open in multiple events.

The contest and fair will be held in January at the Young County Arena. To sign up online, or to find out more, visit the YCJLS website or their Facebook page.

Creative Arts Contest

The Creative Arts Contest is open to all Young County residents, but participation from Young County 4-H, FCCLA and FFA is encouraged. 

The contest has five age divisions: PeeWee (2nd grade and younger), Junior (3rd-5th grade), Intermediate (6th-8th grade), Senior (9th-12th grade) and Adult (non-highschool students aged 18 years and older).

Projects entered into the contest must have been completed from Jan. 18, 2025 to Jan. 13, 2026 and be the work of the exhibitor. The categories for the contest are Culinary, Art, Textiles, Craft and Design, Legos and Photography.

The online contest entry period will be open through 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2. Entries will be accepted at the arena Monday, Jan. 13. Judging will be held from 8-9 a.m. Jan. 13 and all entries will remain on display through Friday, Jan. 16.

All projects must be completed before entry at the arena and there is no limit to the number of entries. 

In the Culinary category, classes will be in cake, canning, cookies, pie, bread and other. In the Art category classes will be in oil/acrylic/temper, watercolor, ink/pen, pencil, mixed media, colored chalk/pastel and other, which includes items not fitting other classes.

In the Textiles category, classes will be in apparel, accessories, knitting, crochet, needlepoint/crewel/cross stitch, quilts and other, which includes items not fitting other categories.

In the Craft and Design category, classes will be in leathercraft, jewelry, craft painting, floral arrangement, clay/pottery, woodworking, clay pottery and other, which includes items not fitting other classes.

In the Photography category, classes will be in animals - domestic, animals wildlife, catch-all, details and macro, dominant color, elements of design, enhanced, food, landscape and nature - non animal, leading line, long exposure, motion/action, people, plant / flora, reflections, shadows/silhouette, theme: volunteers in action and transportation.

In the Legos category, classes will be in automobiles and vehicles, buildings and structures, floral arrangements, free style and kits and other, which includes items not fitting other classes.

Ribbons will be presented to the winners and a best of show will be named for each age division within each category. Grand and reserve champions will also be presented for each category in each age division.

Floral Design

The Floral Design Contest entries are limited to Young County 4-H and FFA members. Three classes will be judged: Senior (grades 9th-12th), Intermediate (grades 6th-8th) and Junior (grades 3rd-5th).

Entry forms must be provided to an FFA advisor/county agent by Friday, Jan. 2. The contest will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15, and project construction will take place at the Floral Design Contest within the arena. 

Projects will be required to be built by 4-H or FFA members only, with no outside help being permitted.

Each contestant will be given an assortment of fresh flower and foliage, containers to choose from as well as floral, foam, floral tape, floral wire and accessories. Contestants will be required to bring their own tools such as wire cutters, florist knife, scissors and pruning shears.

The contestants have 60 minutes to construct an arrangement, or arrangements, of their choosing. 

Judges will determine each division placing and select a grand champion and reserve grand champion. The champion and reserve winners will have their displays donated to the YCJLS which will be auctioned during the premium sale.

All proceeds will benefit the YCJLS board which helps to support the youth livestock show.

Ag Mechanics

The Agriculture Mechanics Contest is limited to Young County 4-H and FFA members. Projects must be built by 4-H or FFA students individually, or as a group limited to six members, or less.

Projects must be in place at the Young County Arena by 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. No group or individual may enter more than three projects total.

Exhibitors are required to provide a notebook with their original plan/ drawing, bill of materials used, photographs showing the phases of construction and copies of the applicable regulations from the Department of Transportation and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers.

Judging for the contest will be held at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 15, at the Young County Arena. The judge will determine each division placing and select grand champion and reserve grand champion projects as well as an overall showmanship champion.

Pound Cake

The Pound Cake Contest has contestants following a determined recipe for pound cake which will be judged based on taste, texture, appearance and detail to instructions in the classes of Senior (9th-12th grade), Intermediate (6th-8th grade), Junior (3rd-5th grade) and PeeWee (2nd grade and younger).

Entries are limited to Young County 4-H and FFA members who can enter up to two pound cakes to be judged. Online registration ends Friday, Jan. 2.

All entries must follow the same recipe: 1 1/2 cups butter, 3 cups granulated sugar, 5 eggs at room temperature, 1 teaspoon butter flavoring or vanilla extract, 2 teaspoon lemon extract, 3 cups all-purpose flour and 1 cup lemon-lime soda.

Entries must be dropped off Monday, Jan. 12 at the Young County Arena. Each class will have ribbon winners and cash scholarships.

A grand and reserve champion will be determined which will be auctioned during the premium sale at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17.

The grand and reserve champion will be required to bake a fresh pound cake the day of the YCJLS premium sale to benefit the YCJLS board in support of the livestock show. 

Pound cake entries are not eligible for the Creative Arts Contest.