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Local Fairs Promote Love of Gardening
Local Fairs Promote Love of Gardening
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Master Gardeners contribute to local fair competitions by judging produce, horticultural products, and even can goods. Master Gardener College 2019 offers Master Gardeners the opportunity to become a Certified Fair Judge.
By: Devon Johnson
Summer brings county fairs, complete with competitions for the best produce, cut flowers, potted plants, and can goods. Many Master Gardeners around the commonwealth play an integral role in their local fairs by serving as judges to evaluate the horticultural products entered in these contests--and of course, many more Master Gardeners participate in their local fair competitions as entrants!
Local fairs are also an important venue to promote gardening to the public and provide an opportunity for local gardeners to show off the products of their labor.
“Fair competitions produce enthusiasm for gardening” says Wendy Silverman, New River Valley Master Gardener Coordinator. “It’s a chance for people to show off their efforts in the garden and promote a love of gardening to others.”
Master Gardeners in the New River Valley and elsewhere serve as judges for their local fairs. “Right now we help with the NRV Fair and the Shawsville Tomato Festival” says Silverman, adding that Master Gardeners judge the horticultural categories (cut flowers and potted plants), while 4H and Master
Food Volunteers help with the produce and can good categories.
“Fairs are always looking for qualified people to do judging and there is no better person to judge than a trained Master Gardener,” says Steve Hale, a New River Valley Master Gardener, who has served as a judge at more than a dozen local fairs. “Master Gardeners can really tell who takes care of their plants, who fertilizes and cultivates them.”
If you’re trying to win, Silverman suggests that you know your ripening stages and submit things that are ready to eat, for example don’t submit a giant zucchini (unless you’re in a giant zucchini category). She adds that consistency is important and that produce should be as clean and blemishfree as possible, while flowers should be put in water to prevent them from wilting.
Hale emphasizes the importance of knowing the criteria for every category you enter. For example, if you enter cut flowers, you should adhere to any criteria dictating the number of blooms to submit. He also adds that horticultural displays, like cut flowers, should be judged immediately after entries close so they don’t sit out for hours in the heat.
“I would encourage anyone to enter,” says Silverman, “Fairs are a lot of fun!”
Master Gardeners often judge horticultural products like cut flowers or potted plants at their local fairs.
Fair Judge Training at 2019 Master Gardener College
2019 Master Gardener college offers an opportunity for Master Gardeners who love fairs to earn the title “Certified Fair Judge.”
Jeannie Layton-Dudding, ANR Agent in Giles/Bland Counties, will serve as lead instructor for a 4-hour workshop on Thursday, September 19 which will teach Master Gardeners how to judge fairs, including how to give constructive feedback on fair entries.
“There could be more emphasis on training [for fair judges],” says Hale, who also notes the importance of giving encouraging feedback and exercising leniency when judging youth categories.
“We’re trying to get judges to be consistent throughout the state and make judging more objective,” says Silverman, who organized the workshop and will teach the horticultural judging component. “This is a great opportunity for Master Gardeners to earn the title of Certified Fair Judge.” ■
Summer brings county fairs, complete with competitions for the best produce, cut flowers, potted plants, and can goods. Many Master Gardeners around the commonwealth play an integral role in their local fairs by serving as judges to evaluate the horticultural products entered in these contests--and of course, many more Master Gardeners participate in their local fair competitions as entrants!
Local fairs are also an important venue to promote gardening to the public and provide an opportunity for local gardeners to show off the products of their labor.
“Fair competitions produce enthusiasm for gardening” says Wendy Silverman, New River Valley Master Gardener Coordinator. “It’s a chance for people to show off their efforts in the garden and promote a love of gardening to others.”
Master Gardeners in the New River Valley and elsewhere serve as judges for their local fairs. “Right now we help with the NRV Fair and the Shawsville Tomato Festival” says Silverman, adding that Master Gardeners judge the horticultural categories (cut flowers and potted plants), while 4H and Master
Food Volunteers help with the produce and can good categories.
“Fairs are always looking for qualified people to do judging and there is no better person to judge than a trained Master Gardener,” says Steve Hale, a New River Valley Master Gardener, who has served as a judge at more than a dozen local fairs. “Master Gardeners can really tell who takes care of their plants, who fertilizes and cultivates them.”
If you’re trying to win, Silverman suggests that you know your ripening stages and submit things that are ready to eat, for example don’t submit a giant zucchini (unless you’re in a giant zucchini category). She adds that consistency is important and that produce should be as clean and blemishfree as possible, while flowers should be put in water to prevent them from wilting.
Hale emphasizes the importance of knowing the criteria for every category you enter. For example, if you enter cut flowers, you should adhere to any criteria dictating the number of blooms to submit. He also adds that horticultural displays, like cut flowers, should be judged immediately after entries close so they don’t sit out for hours in the heat.
“I would encourage anyone to enter,” says Silverman, “Fairs are a lot of fun!”
2019 Master Gardener college offers an opportunity for Master Gardeners who love fairs to earn the title “Certified Fair Judge.”
Jeannie Layton-Dudding, ANR Agent in Giles/Bland Counties, will serve as lead instructor for a 4-hour workshop on Thursday, September 19 which will teach Master Gardeners how to judge fairs, including how to give constructive feedback on fair entries.
“There could be more emphasis on training [for fair judges],” says Hale, who also notes the importance of giving encouraging feedback and exercising leniency when judging youth categories.
“We’re trying to get judges to be consistent throughout the state and make judging more objective,” says Silverman, who organized the workshop and will teach the horticultural judging component. “This is a great opportunity for Master Gardeners to earn the title of Certified Fair Judge.” ■
Fair Judge Training at 2019 Master Gardener College
