Winner of Fair Artwork Design Contest Announced

Congratulations to Sandy Gold of Grass Valley for submitting the winning artwork for the 2011 Fair artwork design contest. Sandy’s design does an excellent job of representing the Nevada County Fair and this year's Fair theme of "Gold! Rush to the Fair.”

Sandy’s design was chosen from more than 20 entries submitted by community members. Her artwork will be used on various Fair promotional pieces, including print ads, t-shirts, buttons, banners, posters, flyers, and handbooks.

Lucy Galbraith of Grass Valley submitted the winning slogan, “Gold. Rush to the Fair,” for the 2011 Fair.

This year’s Nevada County Fair is August 10 – 14, 2011. For more information, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

BARN TOURS OFFERED AT THIS YEAR'S DRAFT HORSE CLASSIC

Get Behind-the-Scenes and Meet the Stars of the Classic – the Beautiful Draft Horses

Barn Tours will be offered to visitors to this year’s Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair – giving them an up close and personal visit with the magnificent Gentle Giant Draft Horses. The behind-the-scenes Barn Tours, led by Draft Horse Classic commentator and teamster Eleanor Roberts, are another way for visitors to be able to meet and talk with Draft Horse exhibitors, as well as meet the stars of the Classic.

Barn tours will be held on Friday, September 24, at 4 pm and Saturday, September 25, at 2 pm. Advance reservations are recommended, as there are a limited number of openings for each tour. The cost for the tour is $10 per person, and advance reservations can be made by calling the Fair Office at 530-273-6217. If there is still availability, tickets may also be purchased the day of the event at the Arena box office.

Each tour will last approximately 45 minutes and will include meeting the exhibitors and learning about how they got involved with Draft Horses; discussing and seeing the different Draft Horse breeds; a show-and-tell of Draft Horse equipment, and a discussion about the training of Draft Horses and what it takes to put a team together. You’ll also get to roam to the various barns on the Fairgrounds to meet the beautiful Draft Horses!

The 24th annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair starts Thursday, September 23 and runs Sunday, September 26 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. The Draft Horse Classic features six stunning performances in the arena. Additionally, live entertainment at the Pine Tree Stage, a world class art show, Treat Street goodies, vendors with western wear and items, a clogging jamboree, a live horse shoeing competition, and an historic photography exhibit are all part of the Harvest Fair, which takes place at the Fairgrounds during all four days of the Classic.

For tickets to the Draft Horse performances or tickets to the Barn Tours, call the office at 273-6217 or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information about the various activities.

Enter Your Exhibits in the Harvest Fair at the Draft Horse Classic

Entries are now being accepted for the Harvest Fair, which takes place during the Draft Horse Classic, September 23 – 26, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. The deadline for Nevada County residents to turn in entry forms to enter exhibits is 5 pm on Monday, September 20. It’s free to enter, and all exhibitors will receive complimentary tickets to the Thursday evening performance of the Draft Horse Classic.

Entry forms are now being accepted at the Fair Office and on-line at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. There are more than 100 different categories to choose from, including fruits and vegetables, cobblers, harvest pies, scarecrows, dried flowers, jams, honey, cut flowers, produce characters, and birdhouses. There’s even a garden photo contest. So many fun categories to choose from!
There’s also a special division for youth and teens, which includes categories like apple face dolls, decoupage, Halloween masks, painted pumpkins, poetry, table settings, and wreaths.

Exhibitors must either submit paper entry forms at the Fair office or enter online at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. There is no entry fee for those who enter an exhibit in the Harvest Fair.

Complete descriptions of all Harvest Fair divisions and categories are available online at www.NevadaCountyFair.com, at the Fair’s Office on McCourtney Road, or by calling the Fairgrounds Office at (530) 273-6217.

The Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair runs September 23 – 26 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. There are six performances featuring the magnificent Draft Horses – Thursday and Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 10 am and 6:30 pm, and Sunday at 10 am and 4 pm.

In addition to the Draft Horse performances, the Harvest Fair is bustling with activities during the four-day event. Live entertainment, Art at the Classic, Treat Street goodies, a Dutch oven cook-off, a clogging jamboree, a lumberjack show, a live shoeing competition, special exhibits, and visits to the barns and breed pavilion make for a family fun day at the Harvest Fair.

For Draft Horse performance tickets or information about entering a Harvest Fair exhibit, call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217 or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Fairgrounds Receives Numerous Industry Awards

The Nevada County Fairgrounds received 25 awards at the 47th Annual Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) Achievement Awards held in Reno, Nevada, at the end of last month. The Nevada County Fairgrounds took home first-place honors for the Fair video created by Gold in the Foothills; its 2009 Draft Horse Classic event and several of its promotional pieces; and its “Ugliest Dang Cake” exhibit competition. It also received first place in the Fair featured program, Social Media Madness, for its work in social media.

During this year’s WFA Achievement Awards Program, offered to recognize excellence and to share fair ideas and programs, the Nevada County Fairgrounds competed against more than 50 Fairs with similar attendance numbers within the Western United States and Canada. At the WFA Achievement Awards Ceremony, the Nevada County Fairgrounds collected a total of seven 1st place awards, 11 2nd place, and seven third place. The Fairgrounds also received nine Honorable Mention awards.

Among the many awards received, the Fairgrounds received second place for the Fair’s “Name the Rabbit” contest; third place for its community outreach program with the Fairgrounds’ Job Fair; second place for its overall marketing program; third place for the Fair’s Kids Corner; and second place for its work with nursery schools and pre-schools in decorating theme-related cut-outs.

The Western Fairs Association is a non-profit trade association serving the Fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada.

To view the winning Fair video, visit www.GoldintheFoothills.com or www.NevadaCountyFair.com. With a theme of “Rooted in Tree-dition,” the 2010 Nevada County Fair is August 11 – 15.

Win $250 in Logo Design Contest

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is sponsoring a contest to find the best logo to illustrate the 2010 Nevada County Fair slogan – “Rooted in Tree-dition” – featuring trees, one of our counties top ten agricultural products. If you’re a talented artist, and you’d like $250, then this is the contest to enter!

The contest, which is open to Nevada County residents only, takes place now through Friday, January 15. If you submit the winning design, you will win $250 and a 2010 Nevada County Fair package that includes admission tickets, parking and carnival coupons. Additionally, the winning artwork will be used on various Fair promotional pieces, print ads, buttons, t-shirts, banners, posters, and flyers.

Interested artists may use any medium and can submit up to three entries, which must be on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper. Entries can be delivered to the Fairgrounds Office at 11228 McCourtney Road or mailed to the Fair Office at PO Box 2687, Grass Valley, CA 95945. A complete set of rules can be found on the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com, or by calling the Fair Office at 530-273-6217.

Hollie Grimaldi Flores of Grass Valley submitted the winning slogan, “Rooted in Tree-dition,” for the five day Fair, August 11 – 15, 2010.

Free Childcare Provided at Country Christmas Faire

The Northern Mines Girl Scouts will offer free babysitting services at this year’s Country Christmas Faire, held November 27 – 29 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. This benefit is provided by this youth service organization so that parents can drop off their children while they enjoy holiday shopping. Free babysitting will be provided in the Community Center at the Fairgrounds; hours for babysitting are the same as the Faire – Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm; and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm.

Errand elves will be available to assist Faire-goers throughout the event. The Errand Elves, provided by students from Clear Creek School, are available to carry packages for shoppers or patrons may use their “Will Call” service and leave their packages in the elves’ care as they continue shopping. Clear Creek students will also be offering mistletoe to Faire-goers. All donations received for the elves and the mistletoe will go towards these young students who are trying to earn money for an outdoor science education camp.

Additionally, the Nevada City Explorer Scouts will coordinate the free parking in the fairgrounds parking lot; Nevada County 4-H clubs will provide volunteers to serve as the trash clean-up crew for the Faire; Will and Paulette Snyders of Empire Horse & Carriage Company and Randall and Trish Gross of Grass Valley’s Rock-n-Horse Ranch will provide wagon rides around the grounds; and Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to greet children. A photographer will be available to capture the special moment with Santa.

The 25th annual Country Christmas Faire begins Friday, November 27, and runs through Sunday, November 29. Admission is $4 for adults, and children 12 and under are free. Parking is also free.

Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

Create a Gingerbread House and Win!!

Now is the time for holiday bakers to think about the creation of a magical Gingerbread House to enter into the 7th annual Gingerbread House Competition at the Country Christmas Faire, held November 27 – 29 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Competitors may enter any of the 12 categories, including children, teens, adults, families, groups and businesses. New this year is a category for children under 8 years of age who want to enter a house made by a kit.

First through third place winners will receive award money with the Best of Show winning $100. A special gift basket from Tess’ Kitchen Store will be awarded to the Best of Show winner and the People’s Choice Award.

Entry forms must be received at the Fairgrounds by Friday, November 20; the actual gingerbread house entry must be delivered to the Fairgrounds on Tuesday, November 24. All Gingerbread House exhibitors will receive two free passes to the Country Christmas Faire.

Entry forms and a complete list of rules can be picked up at the Fairgrounds office on McCourtney Road, or downloaded from the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Fairgrounds Foundation to Host Barn Raising Celebration, Halloween Event

Bring your family and friends and come enjoy the festivities at the Nevada County Fairgrounds on Halloween day. Rain or shine, in costume or in street clothes, you’ll enjoy the many events planned inside the new livestock pavilion at the Fairgrounds. We’ll be serving hamburgers and hot dogs, and there will be live entertainment, treats for the kids, a pie auction, and special projects from the Ag Mechanics from our local high schools. You don’t want to miss the costume and scarecrow contests!

Hosted by the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation, this Barn Raising celebration and Halloween event is Saturday, October 31, from 2 – 5 pm at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. This event is in celebration of the completion of the Fairgrounds’ new livestock pavilion, the Whitney Pavilion, as well as a fundraising event for the new building.

The cost is only $5 per person and includes food, treats and entertainment! Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, at all Citizen’s Bank branches, or at the Book Seller in Grass Valley. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event at the Fairgrounds. Call 530-273-6217, or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information.