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2012 Denver County Fair Blue Ribbon Competition Guidelines

Blue Ribbon Winners receive $50 cash in addition to their ribbons.

Blue Ribbon Winners of all LIVE Competitions receive $20 County Fair Cash
good at the Denver County Fair Store.

$1 of every Competition Entry Fee goes to the Pavilion’s chosen charity.
Pavilion Charities & Non Profits:
Geek –The Conflict Center – Anti-Bullying Programs http://www.conflictcenter.org
Fashion – Coming soon
Kitchen - Same Café http://www.soallmayeat.org/
Farm and Garden – the GrowHaus www.thegrowhaus.com
Arts - VSA Colorado/Access Gallery www.accessgallery.org
Kids - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation http://www.jdrfrockymountain.org/
Craft – Safehouse Denver www.safehouse-denver.org
Holistic – Coming soon
Animal – Maxfund www.maxfund.org
Denver County Fair, LLC – 3611 Chestnut Place Denver, Colorado 80216 – denvercountyfair.org
Instructions on How to Enter & General Rules
1. Thanks for your interest in the 2nd Denver County Fair! Competition entries are
listed by Pavilion. Updates for 2012:
a. Geek Pavilion – NEW!
b. Kids Pavilion – NEW!
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c. The 2011 Green Pavilion Categories have been combined with Farm and
Garden for 2012.
d. The Homebrew Competition in the Kitchen Pavilion is officially a BJCP
sanctioned competition! Details under the Kitchen Pavilion section.
e. The Chicken Competition in the Animal Pavilion is an officially sanctioned
competition by both the American Poultry Association and the American
Bantam Association! Details under the Animal Pavilion section.
f.
More LIVE competitions have been added (we just had so much darn fun with
these last year!)
2. Review the 2012 Denver County Fair Competition Guidelines. 2012 Entries must
have been created since the 2011 Denver County Fair (July 31 2011) and by
a resident of Colorado. (Please note, there is an exception for wine. Details in
Kitchen Pavilion section.)
3. The Denver Fair Schedule including demonstrations and live competition times will be
announced July 1st, 2012.
4. Read the general information and rules as well as the specific criteria by class under
each Pavilion section. Additional Classes may be combined or divided at the
discretion of the judge. Competition categories with less than 5 entries that cannot
be combined with another category will not have a cash prize for 1st place.
Encourage your friends and friendly rivals to ENTER!
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Farm and Garden Pavilion (FG) ........................................................................................................ 6
Craft Pavilion (CR) ................................................................................................................................. 9
Kitchen Pavilion (KI) ........................................................................................................................... 10
Fashion Pavilion (FS) .......................................................................................................................... 14
Arts Pavilion (AR) ................................................................................................................................. 15
Holistic Pavilion (HO) .......................................................................................................................... 17
Geek Pavilion (GK)............................................................................................................................... 18
Critter Crunch Fighting Robots - Rules 3.2 by the Denver Mad Scientists Club...................................... 18
Kids Pavilion (KD) ................................................................................................................................ 22
Animal Pavilion (AN) ........................................................................................................................... 23
Live Competitions (LC) ....................................................................................................................... 24
a. Enter into the Fair: Complete the Competition Entry Form online by July
26th, 2012: http://denver.fairmanager.com We encourage you to use
our easy online system when entering the competitions. We have a
step by step guide to walk you through the online process:
http://www.denvercountyfair.org/storage/2012/howtoenter.pdf
b. The online system will send you a confirmation email for your exhibit entries.
Please bring this confirmation form with you on check-in day. Exhibitor
numbers will be assigned when you check in. Entry fees are not refundable.
No refunds for not showing.
c. Online Entry Fees are $5 per entry, or enter 5 items for $20. Online entries
receive one FREE day pass per person. While the online system can do many
things, it cannot process your discount online, however, your $5 discount will
be returned to you at check in. Unfortunately,
d. We encourage all exhibitors to apply online. If you cannot, please send
an email for support: vikki@denvercountyfair.org.
e. Walk-in Entries: We will be accepting walk-in entries for categories that
have online entries as of July 26th. Check the website on July 30th to see if
your category is eligible for a walk in. Walk in entries will ONLY be accepted
on Wednesday, August 8th from 3:00pm – 7:00pm, walk-in entries are $7.00
each.
f.
Cook Book & Live Competitions: During registration, you will be asked if
you would like your recipe from your Kitchen Pavilion entry included in the
2012 Denver County Fair cook book. We strongly encourage you to
participate in the fun but do understand you may have a secret ingredient
that you want to keep, well, secret! On your submitted recipe, just make a
notation for “secret ingredient”. Also during registration, we will be asking if
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you would like your Kitchen or Farm and Garden entry to be considered for
use in our live cooking competitions.
5. Fair Check-In:
a. When you enter and pay through the online competition entry system, your
paperwork will be ready when you arrive to submit your exhibit items for the
fair. Please bring a printed copy of your email confirmation with you.
b. Exhibits need to be delivered in person to the National Western Stock Show
Complex, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216. Drop off times are
Wednesday, August 8th, 3:00pm – 7:00pm or Thursday, August 9th,
8:00am – 12:00pm
i. ALL Art Pavilion entries must be checked in on Wednesday,
August , 3:00pm – 7:00pm. This allows us just enough time to
build the Fair Gallery.
ii. All Bread entries should be dropped off on Thursday, August
9th, 8:00am – 11:00am as they will be judged on Thursday.
iii. Animal check in will be on Thursday, August 9th at 4pm – 7pm
for the vet to check in the birds, rabbits and goats. Entry of animals
dropped outside of this designated time is at the discretion of the
supervisor.
c. You will receive your exhibitor number and your exhibit identification tags for
each entry when you check in on Wednesday or Thursday. Take your entries
to the appropriate pavilion and check in with the pavilion manager.
6. Judging: Judging is a blind process which uses your exhibit and your exhibitor
number but not your name. You do need not be present for judging. Judging for
some competitions is open to the public and you are welcome to listen and learn
from our judges.
7. Premiums: The Denver County Fair will award a First Place Blue Ribbon in each
category with a $50 cash prize. Competition categories with less than 5 entries that
cannot be combined with another category will not have a cash prize for 1st place. A
Second and Third Place Ribbon will also be awarded with no cash prize. Ribbons will
be placed on most Fair competition entries by 10am Friday August 10th.
a. We will also be awarding Green Ribbons in each Pavilion with a $20 County
Fair Cash good at the Denver County Fair Store for certain outstanding entries
using sustainable methods, i.e., local ingredients, etc. Please include a
description of what makes your entry “green”.
b. A Special Fair Award may be awarded by the judges for outstanding
achievement and/or stellar items in a field of like categories. The cash prize
for the Special Fair Award is $50.
c. A Pavilion Grand Champion prize will be awarded to the contestant that wins
the most ribbons in each Pavilion. The cash prize for the Grand Champion is
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$200. In order to qualify, the winner must have a minimum of five ribbons in
that pavilion and at least one blue ribbon.
8. Release of Entries after the Fair: Please return to the 2011 Fairgrounds (National
Western Stock Show Complex, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216) and pick
up your exhibits Sunday, August 12th between 6pm – 8pm. Exhibits not picked up
will be discarded Sunday at 10:00pm. Because we want to showcase all our exhibits
and exhibitors for the duration of the fair, we cannot allow removing entries prior to
6pm on Sunday. Removal of any exhibit before the designated time could cause the
forfeiture of award money.
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Farm and Garden Pavilion (FG)
For 2012, Farm and Garden and Green competitions have been combined.
All vegetable, fruit and flower entries will be judged based on best formation, best color,
true to species and no blemishes. Please include a note card with your entry educating our
judges by outlining your process. This could include, but is not limited to: where you grew
your entry (ie: which side of the house), if you used a trellis, if you used compost or
fertilizer or other relevant aspects of your process. Please ensure that your name is not on
this note card.
For entries which require water to remain looking their best in the Farm and Garden
Pavilion, the Denver County Fair will provide a display container with water. The exception
to this is the Flower Arrangement category. Please use your own display container for your
Flower Arrangement entry.
To demonstrate your item with an exhibit board, include important information to
demonstrate your storyline or process, progress made, lessons learned, achieved goals or
end result. Exhibit boards can include pictures, written content and other information on
the exhibit board.
Class # - Class Name - Description:
01
Produce/Horticulture: Vegetables - Root
a. Any type, 2 samples (Examples: potato, carrot, kohlrabi)
02
Produce/Horticulture: Vegetables - Leaf
a. Any type, 2 samples of each entry type (Examples, 2 lettuce heads, 2 broccoli
heads, 2 cabbage heads)
03
Produce/Horticulture: Vegetables – Vine Growing
a. Any type, 2 samples of each entry type (Examples: cucumbers, zucchinis,
squash, pole beans)
04
Produce/Horticulture: Vegetables - Peppers
a. Any type, 2 samples of each entry type (Examples: jalapeno, serrano,
habanero, green, sweet)
05
Produce/Horticulture: Vegetables - Garlic
a. Any variety, 2 samples of each entry variety (bulb)
06
Produce/Horticulture: Onions
a. Any variety, 2 samples of each entry variety
07
Produce/Horticulture: Mushrooms
a. Any variety, pint box
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08
Produce/Horticulture: Fruits - Melons
a. Any variety, 2 samples
09
Produce/Horticulture: Fruits – Berries
a. Any variety, pint box
10
Produce/Horticulture: Tomatoes
a. Any variety, 2 samples
11
Produce/Horticulture: Fruits - Pitted Fruits & Tree
a. Any variety, 2 samples (Examples: plum, peach, cherry, apple)
12
Produce/Horticulture: Culinary Herbs
a. Any variety, 1 bunch (Examples: rosemary, mint, cilantro).
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Produce/Horticulture: Novelty - Be CREATIVE, have FUN! Include a note card
with your entry providing details on your entry. Who is the celebrity? What is
the mutation?
a. Celebrity Look-a-Like
b. Funniest Mutation / Shape
c. Most Colorful
d. Biggest Fruit or vegetable
e. Smallest Fruit or vegetable
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Small Container Gardens - 2 or more kinds of plants (same species is ok) in your
own container (will be used as part of the display and judging). Include a note
card with your entry describing your process and how it is used.
a. Ornamental
b. Vegetable and / or herb
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Bonsai
16
House plants
17
Native Plants
18
Flower Arrangement
a. Displayed in your own container
19
Best Annual Cut Flower
a. Any variety, 1 – 5 stems (Examples: Geranium, cosmos, salvia)
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20
Best Perennial Cut Flower
a. Any variety, 1 – 5 stems (Examples: Daisy, Echinacea, Black Eyed Susan)
21
Rose
a. Any variety, 3 stems
22
Aquaponics / Hydroponics / Permaculture
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Compost
a. Please provide a bucket or bag of end result product. Include a poster board
with story line capturing relevant points to your process and a step by step
overview. Extra visual aids including samples of what goes in compost
process are acceptable as well. Poster board should also include a written
explanation of what your compost is used for.
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Xeriscape – poster board
a. Submit exhibit board
25
Garden Transformation - Productive space
a. Submit exhibit board
26
Garden Transformation - Beauty / aesthetic
a. Submit exhibit board
27
Honey Bee Hives
b. Submit exhibit board. Be sure to demonstrate your care for the life of the bee
and consideration to your neighbors
28
Chicken Coop
a. Submit exhibit board. Be sure to demonstrate your care for the life of the
chicken
29
Goat Shed
a. Submit exhibit board. Be sure to demonstrate your care for the life of the
goat
30
Greenhouse or Sustainability Structure
a. Submit exhibit board. Be sure to demonstrate how your structure supports
green and outlines your build and maintenance process.
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Craft Pavilion (CR)
To display your item or craft project for the CRAFT PAVILION, please bring the entry item
and your may bring necessary display tools. For example, rack for quilts, hangers for
clothing items, a display box for accessories, the end product of the repurposed item, bird
house or wood working entry. The display tool will not be judged, but we welcome your
expertise on how to best showcase your item to our fair goers! Display cases will be
available for small and/or fragile items.
Class # - Class Name:
01
Sewing – Clothing
02
Sewing - Home Décor
03
Sewing - Accessories
04
Knitting
05
Crochet
06
Spinning
07
Needle Works: Embroidery, lace making, needlepoint
08
Quilting: Contemporary
09
Quilting: Traditional
10
Weaving
11
Repurposed/Recycled Materials
12
Scrapbooking – Electronic
13
Scrapbooking - Traditional
14
Furniture
15
Bird Houses
16
Toys
17
Fly Tying
18
Wood Working
19
Polymer Clay
20
Beading
21
Best Piñata
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Kitchen Pavilion (KI)
Safety is a priority when it comes to the Kitchen Pavilion! For this reason, only water bath
preserving methods will be accepted. We will not be accepting pressure canned preserves.
Water bath timelines should follow jar size recommendations outlined by the USDA. LINK
TO DOCUMENT. To be considered for judging, all preserved food entries must be canned or
dried according to the most recent research based USDA or Colorado State University
recommendations utilizing high altitude adjustments.
Processes that are unacceptable and unsafe include open kettle processing, inversion
sealing, paraffin sealed jellies/jams, pickles, jams and jellies not processed in a boiling
water bath canner, water bath canning of low acid products (some vegetables require
pressure canning), and meat jerky dried from unsafe meats. CSU recommendations must be
used for jerky to ensure safety.
All Kitchen Pavilion Entries MUST be accompanied by a recipe & process overview for the
judge to review during the judging portion of the competition. If you have a “secret”
ingredient, please note this.
All canned products must be documented or labeled properly. Please prepare and provide
documentation when you drop off your entry to include the following information:
a. name of product
b. ingredients
c. preparation instructions
d. process method (i.e. water bath)
e. process time & temperature
f.
date canned (all entries must have been preserved since July 1, 2010)
g. source of recipe
Standard canning jars should be used for all canned exhibits (Ball or Kerr).
Baked goods should be exhibited in disposable containers when possible (pie tins).
Competitions involving alcohol are only open to individuals 21 years of age or over.
Items requiring cooking (example: cured bacon) may be cooked prior to judging depending
on their criteria. Please provide cooking instructions with your entry and the pavilion
manager will coordinate with the judge. Items requiring refrigeration (cheese, cream pie)
will be stored in on-site refrigerators before and after judging at approximately 50 degrees.
Class # - Class Name - Description:
01
Homebrew Beer (Examples: Ales, Stouts, Lager, etc.)
a. Two (2) unmarked brown or green bottles 10 or more ounces are required
for each entry. Enter the variety in the description field on your entry form
using the BJCP Style Guide: http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php
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02
Homebrew Cider
a. Two (2) unmarked brown or green bottles 10 or more ounces are required
for each entry. Enter the variety in the description field on your entry form
using the BJCP Style Guide: http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php
03
Homebrew Mead
a. Two (2) unmarked brown or green bottles 10 or more ounces are required
for each entry. Enter the variety in the description field on your entry form
using the BJCP Style Guide: http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php
04
Wine
a. One (1) unmarked 750 ml, 500 ml or 375 ml bottle is required for each
entry. Enter the variety in the description field on your entry form.
Judges will judge wines based on variety. Contest is open to any amateur
home winemaker. No wine exhibited may have been made by a
professional commercial winemaker or by any commercial winery.
05
Spirits / Liqueurs
a. One (1) unmarked 750 ml, 500 ml or 375 ml bottle is required for each
entry. Enter the variety in the description field on your entry form.
06
Preserving: Jams & Jellies
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
07
Preserving: Chutneys & Relishes
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
08
Preserving: Sauces
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
09
Preserving: Green Chili & Salsas
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
10
Preserving: Vegetable
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
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Preserving: Pickles
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
12
Preserving: Ethnic Open Class
a. Submit one (1) jar to be opened, judged and displayed
13
Honey - Please submit Three (3) 1-Ib jars honey, extracted product from the
entrant’s apiary, displayed in mason jars with metal lids, and have been
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produced after the 2011 Denver County Fair. Entries should not be labeled in
any fashion. The exhibitor must choose which classes to place entries in.
Judges may adjust classes at their discretion. Key criteria for judging include
density, flavor and color.
a. Light
b. Amber
c. Dark
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Honeycomb
a. Submit Three (3) circular sections of comb honey displayed in appropriate
container in which all sides are transparent. (window cartons, round
section lids – both transparent, cut-comb box)
15
Bees Wax
a. Submit Three (3) pieces of 8 ounce pure beeswax, molded and wrapped in
cellophane.
16
Cheese
a. Cheese mold or final product. Judges will slice for the judging event
b. Please notify the pavilion manager if your entry requires refrigeration
17
Eggs (from your own food producing animals)
a. 6 eggs
18
Cured & Smoked Meats
a. 4 pieces on a disposable plate in a zipper seal-type bag
b. Please notify the pavilion manager if your entry requires refrigeration or
cooking.
19
Drying, Dehydrating
a. 4 pieces on a disposable plate in a zipper seal-type bag
20
Chocolate & Candy
a. 4 pieces on a disposable plate in a zipper seal-type bag
21
Fruit Pie – Apple
22
Fruit Pie – Cherry
23
Fruit Pie – Other
24
Cream Pie
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25
Pie Open Class – Sweet
26
Pie Open Class - Savory
27
Bread
a. One Loaf, any kind of bread
28
Rolls
a. Exhibit 4 of one kind
29
Muffins
a. Exhibit 4 of one kind
30
Cupcakes
a. Exhibit 4 of one kind
31
Cakes
32
Pastry & Cookies
33
Sustainable Cooking Open Class
34
Gluten Free Open Class
35
Sugar Free Open Class
36
Cake Decorating
37
Egg Decorating
38
Vegan Dish
a. Your creation or tried & true recipe. Please site the reference used if
using a recipe
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Wild Edibles – including weeds!
a. Your creation or a tried and true recipe. Please reference site used for
recipe and where you foraged your source ingredients.
36.
Molded Gelatin Dessert
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Fashion Pavilion (FS)
Fashion items are as varied as you are and we love it! Please bring the entry item and any
necessary display tools. For example, hangers to display a costume, wall hangings to
display fashion art or the end product of the repurposed item. The display tool will not be
judged, but we welcome your expertise on how to best showcase your item to our fair
goers!
Class # - Class Name
01
Clothing Design
02
Jewelry Design
03
Accessory Design
04
Children's Wear
05
Ethnic clothing
06
Costuming
07
Fabric Art & Design
08
Vintage Design
09
Repurposed/Recycled Materials
10
Shoes
11
Fabric Design
14
Arts Pavilion (AR)
All articles will be judged on workmanship, design and suitability to purpose. Wall hanging
exhibits must be finished and ready to hang. Enter title, medium and price with your entry
in the description field. Denver County Fair will take no commission on art work sold.
*Art Exhibits need to be delivered in person to the National Western Stock Show Complex,
4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216. You will be asked to make a tag on drop off.
Drop off art work Wednesday, August 8th, from 3pm-7pm only. Art is limited to
48” wide, any length unless prior approval is obtained by the Art Pavilion Manager and
Competition Director.
Class # - Class Name:
01
Painting
02
Sculpture
03
Mixed Media
04
Screen printing
05
Ceramics
06
Photography
07
Installation Art
08
Film/Video
09
Fiber Art
10
Digital Art
11
Pastel
12
Illustration
13
Graphic Design
14
Printmaking
15
Drawing
16
Paper Making
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Poetry
a. Bounty: Denver County Fair’s Poetry Contest
Denver County Fair announces Bounty, the second annual poetry contest, featuring
poems inspired by agriculture, food, gardens and farms.
Two Categories: Adult (ages 18 and over); Youth (ages 10 - 17)
First Place: Blue Ribbon + Tattered Cover Gift Card + Poetry Performance + $50
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Second Place: Red Ribbon + Tattered Cover Gift Card + Poetry Performance
Third Place: White Ribbon + Tattered Cover Gift Card + Poetry Performance
Finalists: Poetry Performance
Entry Fee: $5 - includes one FREE Fair pass
Enter HERE: http://denver.fairmanager.com
Competition Information: http://www.denvercountyfair.org/competitions/
Poetry submissions may be of any length and any style but must relate to the theme of
agriculture, food, gardens and farms. Poems must be previously unpublished and have
not received awards in other competitions. Contest is open to Colorado residents only.
One poem per entry fee. Multiple submissions accepted. Submissions are judged by a
published, award-winning poet. All judging is blind.
Use the online entry form (above) to pay your entry fee.
Then submit your poem by the entry deadline on July 26th via email to
poetry@denvercountyfair.org. Include your name, address, telephone number and
category (Adult or Youth). Submit the poem in a Word Document or paste in the body of
your email.
Winning poems will be on display at the Denver County Fair, August 10 - 12, 2012, and
winners and finalists will read their poems at the Denver County Fair Poetry Performance
on Sunday, August 12th.
Entry Deadline: Thursday, July 26th, 2012
Finalists Announced: Monday, August 6 via email
Winners Announced: Friday, August 10, at the Denver County Fair.
Winners & Finalists Poetry Performance: Sunday, August 12.
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Holistic Pavilion (HO)
To demonstrate your item, please bring the end product as well as the documented creation
process including ingredients and process used (typed is preferred to handwritten). Be sure
to highlight any “green” methods incorporated into your process, for example herbs raised
in your garden or soap from biodiesel. Please ensure any identifying labeling is removed so
judging remains blind. Judges may use the item as part of their process, for example, using
the soap or applying oil.
Class # - Class Name:
01
Handmade Soap
a. Judged on 1) General appearance and consistency; 2) performance {lather,
feel, moisturizing afterwards}; and 3) scent appeal.
02
Candle Making from Bees Wax
a. Three pair, pure beeswax, dipped taper candles wrapped in cellophane, 8”
length.
b. Three pair, pure beeswax, molded taper candles, wrapped in cellophane, 8”
length.
03
Lotions
04
Potions
05
Homeopathic Remedies
06
Aromatherapy
07
Essential oils
08
Medicinal Herbs
09
Dream Catchers
10
Divination (Examples: runes, wand, pendulum)
11
Zen Garden
17
Geek Pavilion (GK)
01
Best Invention
02
Best Homemade Robot (functional)
03
Best Homemade Robot (non-functional)
04
Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Art
05
Best Science Art
06
Best Vintage Technology collectible
07
Best Vintage Geeky Toy collectible
08
Best Model Building
09
Best Original Comic Book
10
Best Original Short Story (1000-word limit; must pertain to geekery)
Original Comic Book and Original Short Story: Use the online entry form to enter
and pay your entry fee. Then submit your entry by the entry deadline on August 3 via
email to geek@denvercountyfair.org. Include your name, address, telephone number
and category. Submit the story in a Word Document or paste in the body of your email.
Comic Book and Best Original Short Story are open to Colorado residents only. Multiple
submissions are accepted and a $5 entry fee per submission applies. All judging is blind.
Winning comic books and stories will be on display at the Denver County Fair, August 10
- 12, 2012.
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Critter Crunch Fight Robots
a. Read and follow the rules below.
b. Build your critter. Your critter will be evaluated prior to the competition to
assure that it stays within all the specifications listed in the rules. Arrive at
least an hour early.
c. Fill out the online entry form at www.denvercountyfair.org – See the
Competitions page.
d. Be at the Denver County Fair on Saturday, August 11 by TBA (Link to
schedule).
e. Compete, have fun and fight for the Blue Ribbon and the $50 cash prize.
Critter Crunch Fighting Robots - Rules 3.2 by the Denver Mad Scientists Club
SPIRIT RULES:
A. No Cheating! You know, like intentionally subverting the rules.
B. Frankenstein Rule: In honor of the most famous Mad Scientist, and of Mad Scientists
everywhere, the audience may verbally behave like an offended and outraged
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populace towards any and all critters/operators that they deem offensive and
outrageous.
CRITTERS:
A. Critter size at the start of combat will be a cube 12” x 12” x 12”. The critter must be
able to stand alone on the combat surface within these dimensions until combat
begins. After the start of combat, the 12” cube restriction no longer applies and the
critter may transform to fighting mode in any way not otherwise restricted.
B. Critter weight limit is 20 pounds in class 1, and 2 pounds in class 2.
A 2.5 percent
error factor will be allowed to account for variations in scales.
C. Critters may be powered by any source socially acceptable (OSHA approved) for
indoor use. Critter power source must be 100% contained in the critter and
packaged appropriately for the expected abuse.
D. Control pendants, cables, or other external control devices do not count against the
critter weight or size. Critter control may be by any means not prohibited by rules
Critters (C) or Combat (E). However, radio controlled critters must be able to
operate on at least two frequencies (or perhaps, an R/C tether combination) to avoid
radio frequency conflicts.
E. All critters must be capable of movement at a rate of not less than two inches per
minute.
F. No critter may, under any circumstances, present a hazard to the judge(s),
spectators, or the opposing operator(s). No critter may in its operation cause
damage to anything other than the opposing critter or the combat surface. Any
questions regarding the acceptability of any weapons should be addressed, as far as
possible, before the event.
G. All critters must conform to the general rules of the Denver County Fair and the
National Western Stock Show Complex. ( ie No Open Flame, etc.) .
H. All critters will be subject to a technical inspection prior to combat. Failure to
disclose any operating principle shall be grounds for disqualification. Judges may
restrict any function deemed excessively hazardous.
I.
Weapons directed specifically toward attacking critter controls systems (cable cutter,
R/C jamming, etc.) are not allowed.
J. Critters (including multipart critters) are allowed to have only one designated
operator.
COMBAT:
A. The current “combat surface” is defined as the surface of an unfinished wood
platform 8 feet long by 8 feet wide and 4 inches high.
A. The combat volume is defined as the combat surface and the airspace above it to the
height of whatever ceiling is present, not including the ceiling or anything attached
to it.
B. Leaving the combat volume entirely is considered a loss. Up to 50% of the critter
may leave the combat volume provided that the remaining portion is capable of
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movement per rule I.E. In the case of two-part critters, the heaviest and/or main
part of the critter must be designated and clearly marked as the main or 51% part.
The other part is considered as expendable. Loss of the main part is a loss for both.
C. No part of any operator’s body may intentionally impinge on the combat volume
during combat.
D. Projectiles:
1. A projectile is defined as an object thrown with the expectation that its kinetic
energy will affect its target.
2. Projectiles, if employed, must be tethered. Tethers must be no longer than
four feet.
E. Non-projectile, loose items may be deployed from your critter but must be picked or
cleaned up, to the best of your ability, after combat.
JUDGES:
A. Judges shall be impartial non-participants.
B. Judges may declare a contest completed at any time.
C. Judges’ decisions are final.
COMPETITION:
A. The manner of elimination (single elimination, double, etc.) will be at the discretion
of the competition organizers, and will be announced prior to the competition.
B. Critters will start on opposite sides of the combat surface with the aft end of the
critter even with the edge of the combat surface.
C. The critters must be ready when the combat begins. Combat will not be restarted
due to mistakes, radio conflicts, or other setup problems. A brief pretest may be
allowed by the judge(s).
D. Victory:
1. To claim victory your critter must show mobility and be at least 50% within
the combat volume. You will be declared defeated if your critter has been
rendered immobile, or if 51% or more of the critter is outside the combat
volume.
2. If both critters are immobile, the critter controlling mobility will be declared
the winner.
3. If both critters leave the combat volume, last one out wins.
4. Absent a clear victory, combat will proceed for 3 minutes after which the
judge(s) may declare a winner, a draw, or grant more time.
E. No critter shall be required to compete within 10 minutes of its previous combat to
permit recharging of batteries, replenishment of expendables, damage repair, etc.
Machines requiring excessive time to prepare for their next combat may be declared
defeated by forfeit, at the discretion of the judges.
CLARIFICATIONS
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The following are some clarifications and examples to aid builders in the Critter Crunch.
These are based on the questions we get asked most often.
Power Sources:
The most obvious is batteries, but don’t let yourself be limited. Any source
designated by OSHA as suitable for indoor use is okay. This includes, for example, a
four-stroke internal combustion engine powered by propane. Please include a tilt
switch to shut it off if it is turned over, where appropriate.
Combat Surface:
Check with the organizers before spreading oil slicks or deploying chainsaws. Clean
up will be accomplished by the critter operator(s).
Deployables:
In the interests of keeping the construction simple, self-retraction of deployed
appendages is not required. That is, you may hand-prep your critter to fit the 12”
cube, although it must fit the cube un-assisted. Deployments must be an automatic
function.
Spirit of the Rules:
It is not the wish of the organizers to disqualify entries on minor technicalities.
Rather, the rules should be interpreted as broadly as possible to permit the widest
variety of endeavor.
Projectiles:
A stream of liquid is not a projectile. Something that is tossed, so as to disperse or
place it across the table, is not a projectile. Use common sense and don’t quibble.
Expected Abuse:
(From Critters, C) Note that your critter may, during the course of competition, be
severely damaged or even destroyed. Past competitions have seen critters equipped
with pneumatic cylinders, spear-throwing CO2 cannons, and flame throwers. Please
consider this when packaging your power source if it involves such potential hazards
as acid (batteries), flammable liquids (engines), or plutonium (reactors). Developing
an emotional attachment to your critter is recommended, as it contributes to creative
vengeance!
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Kids Pavilion (KD)
Entries in the Kids Pavilion are for kids 12 years old and younger. Please bring a
note card describing the entry and listing the child’s age. Please do not put any names on
the notecard.
01
Best Craft – Sewing / Knitting / Etc
02
Best Craft – Woodworking
03
Best Invention
04
Best Pie
05
Best Cookie
06
Best Homemade Candy
07
Best Homegrown Vegetable or Fruit
08
Best Homegrown Flower
09
Best Art - 2D
10
Best Art – 3D
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Animal Pavilion (AN)
The Denver County Fair adheres to the International Association of Fairs and Expositions
(IAFE) National Code of Show Ring Ethics. Each animal exhibitor is required to sign a form
indicating they have read the code and will abide by the guidelines.
http://www.fairsandexpos.com/pdf/ShowRingCodeofEthics.pdf
To ensure the safety of your animals, we are requesting animal owners who board your
animal to supply food, water and be responsible for cleaning your animal space daily. A
veterinarian will be on staff and on site to assist with checking the animals in. Animal
check in is on Thursday, August 9th at 4pm – 7pm for birds, rabbits and goats. Entry
of animals dropped outside of this designated time is at the discretion of the supervisor.
Pens and cages will be provided for Goats, Rabbits, Chickens and Waterfowl only, otherwise
please bring the necessary housing for your animal entries providing a safe environment to
exhibit your animals.
We are a sanctioned competition in 2012 by the American Poultry Association and the
American Bantam Association! We will be following their guidelines and detailed updates
coming in July! When entering your chickens, please designate the breed (Bantam or
Standard), gender and color. Leg bands are preferred. Coop cards will be provided by the
Fair for cages.
We encourage everyone to enter no matter what your experience level is. The
Denver County Fair will also have a special class of competitions for the beginners just
getting into raising and exhibiting animals. Denver 4H will also be hosting competitions for
kids under 12 years of age, stay tuned for details.
01 Birds: Chickens
02 Birds: Waterfowl
03 Birds: Other – Pigeons, Turkeys, all Other Birds
04 Goats
05 Rabbits
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Live Competitions (LC)
To enter a live Competition all you have to do is show up 15 minutes before the time
slot to sign up! There is no competition entry fee required, just your ticket to get into the
fair. Details for the live eating contests can be found online:
http://www.denvercountyfair.org/live-competitions/
Blue Ribbon Winners of all LIVE Competitions receive $20 County Cash good at the
Denver County Fair Store.
Check the schedule for the latest times and competitions! Coming June 1st.
Including but not limited to:
01
Fashion Pavilion - Moustache & Beard
02
Fashion Pavilion - Hairstyle
03
Fashion Pavilion - Body Art/Tattoo
04
Fashion Pavilion – “Miss Denver County Fair" Drag Queen
05
Cheeseburger Cook-Off
06
Food eating contests
07
Live Sewing Challenge - This secret challenge will be revealed at the competition.
We will provide sewing machines, notions and fabric and challenge participants'
sewing prowess with an on-the-spot creation. Participants will be given 15
minutes to complete the task.
08
Live Speed Knitting - Each participant will be given needles and yarn (provided by
Fancy Tiger) and whoever knits the most rows in 10 minutes wins. There will be
multiple heats and a final round between the finalists.
09
Live Crocheting Challenge - Each participant will be given hook and yarn
(provided by Fancy Tiger) and whoever crochets the most rows in 10 minutes
wins. There will be multiple heats and a final round between the finalists.
10
Speed Drop-Spindle Spinning - Each participant can use their own drop spindle or
we will provide one for them. Fancy Tiger will provide each participant with wool
for spinning. Whoever spins the longest yarn in 10 minutes wins the challenge.
11
Holistic Pavilion – Live Belly Dancing
12
Geek Pavilion - Spelling Bee
13
Geek Pavilion - Scrabble Tournament
14
Geek Pavilion - Trivia Contests
15
Geek Pavilion – Social Media Smack Down
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16
Animal Pavilion - Cat Competitions are open to all breeds and mixes. Cats on
Parade – Bring your Biggest, smallest, prettiest, ugliest, fattest, or fluffiest furry
friend!
17
Animal Pavilion - Dog Competitions are open to all breeds and mixes. Dogs on
Parade – Bring your Biggest, smallest, prettiest, ugliest, fattest, longest hair or
longest ears furry friend
18
Dogs: Best Trick
19
Supper Hollerin’ Contest
20
Human Chicken Contest
21
Chihuahuas on Parade Animal (Sunday - Viva Denver!)
22
Iguanas – Animal (Sunday - Viva Denver!)
23
Speed Texting – Geek
24
Rubiks Cube Challenge – Geek
25
Critter Crunch Robot Wars – Geek
26
Bob Ross Paint-In - Art
27
Corpses & Crowns – Zombie Beauty Pageant – Geek
28
Best Frida Kahlo Unibrow – Art
29
Costume Contest – Fashion
30
Diaper Derby (several times) – Kids
31
Tracy Weil Birthday Cake Competition – Kitchen
32
Best Chocolate Sculpture Competition - Kitchen
33
Taco Trophy (Taco making competition) – Kitchen (Sunday – Viva Denver!)
25