Rules & Guidelines

• All Battle for the Blue Ribbons contests are open to ALL AGES.
• Contestants may enter each of the three (3) contests as part of this program.
• Contestants are limited to six (6) entries per contest, with one (1) per category.
• Ribbons will be awarded for First, Second, Third, and Honorable Mention.
• Contestants earning a Blue Ribbon in the Cookie, Cake, and Bread contests are eligible to compete in the Best of Show-Down contest during the Fair on Sunday, 10/8/2023.
• Read individual contest rules for contest-specific requirements and changes from last year.
• Decisions of the Director of Creative Arts will be final. No person is allowed to interfere with judges or Fair staff assisting judges during the judging process. Violators will be disqualified and asked to leave the judging area.

• The recipe for each entry must be included and typed on an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of white paper. The contestant’s name, address, and phone number must be printed on the backside of the recipe.
• All recipes must list all ingredients with instructions on preparation in the order of ingredient usage. Incomplete recipes will not be used in the cookbook.
• Any recipe that has been precisely copied or photo-copied from any magazine, letter, newspaper, cookbook, or other publication will not be accepted.
• Must use U.S. standard measurements in the recipe. The use of metric system measurement is not acceptable.
• By entering a cooking contest(s), each contestant who places or receives an honorable mention hereby grants to the State Fair of Texas a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive right, and license to use the entry (recipe and/or image) in association with the State Fair of Texas, including without limitation, events, and promotions, in all media now known or later developed. This license includes allowing the State Fair to publish the recipe and/or image in the State Fair of Texas annual cookbook, any special edition cookbooks, recipe blogs on the Fair or its sponsors’ websites, and in third-party media placement. The contestant will receive recognition in published uses of the entry.

Best of Show awarded at the Best of Show-Down during the Fair on Sunday, 10/8/2023. Other ribbons awarded in each category.

COOKIE CONTEST

Blue / 1st Place		$25
Red / 2nd Place		$15
White / 3rd Place		$10
Yellow / Honorable Mention		Ribbon

CAKE CONTEST

Blue / 1st Place		$25
Red / 2nd Place		$15
White / 3rd Place		$10
Yellow / Honorable Mention		Ribbon

BREAD CONTEST

Blue / 1st Place		$25
Red / 2nd Place		$15
White / 3rd Place		$10
Yellow / Honorable Mention		Ribbon

Contestants earning a Blue Ribbon in the Cookie, Cake, and Bread contests are eligible to compete in the Best of Show-Down during the Fair on Sunday, 10/8/2023. All Best of Show-Down contestants will be given (2) 1-day admission and 1-day parking passes to the 2023 Fair.

All entries in the Arts & Craft contests should follow these general rules. Each contest has its own set of rules and guidelines to the number of entries allowed.

• Entries in the Arts & Crafts contests must be appropriate for family viewing at the Fair.
• Any entry that previously won a ribbon in a State Fair contest may not be re-entered.
• All handmade entries must be made by only the participant, unless entered into a two-person or group category as specified.
• Entries that contain edible components are prohibited except for the Canning Contest.
• The State Fair of Texas does not accept soiled, damaged, or broken items.
• Contestants must adhere to the age and skill divisions. If an entry is
  to be found in violation of the policy, it will be disqualified.

For entries waiting to be judged and those on display during the run of the Fair, the State Fair of Texas provides building security and surveillance around the clock, and every precaution is taken to protect all entered items. Any additional insurance or security deemed necessary by the contestant must be provided by that individual.

Contestants must register their items online at BigTex.com/Creative. Entries can be hand delivered to the fairgrounds, or mailed to the Creative Arts Department.

The Fair will accept entries for three days in the beginning of August as outlined on the key dates. The map shows directions to the Creative Arts Building and parking information.

Non-winning entries will be picked up prior to the Fair on the designated days. Winning entries will be on display for the duration of the Fair and picked up on the designated days following the Fair.

All entries MUST arrive before the entry deadline and must include:

• Copy of registration confirmation.
• Return postage either in the form of prepaid postage, check, or
  money order.

Entries winning and non-winning will be returned no later than three weeks after the closing of the Fair.

UPS or FEDEX address:
State Fair of Texas
Attn: Creative Arts Dept.
1327 Admiral Nimitz Circle
Dallas, TX 75210

U.S. Postal Service address:
State Fair of Texas
Attn: Creative Arts Dept.
P.O. Box 150009
Dallas, TX 75315

The Big Tex BBQ & Chili Challenge will take place on Saturday, September 23, and includes four different cook-off contests: Big Tex BBQ Challenge, Big Tex “No Rules” Chili Challenge, Big Tex “Green” Chili Challenge, and CASI Chili Challenge. The CASI Chili Challenge is a sanctioned qualifying event where contestants may earn points toward the annual CASI Terlingua International Chili Championship.

• All cooks will be allowed one parking space for cooking.
• CONTESTANTS MUST SUPPLY A 2a10bc FIRE EXTINGUISHER. It must have been inspected by a licensed technician within the past 12 months. A service tag must be attached with the month and year punched on the tag noting when it was serviced. The charge gauge on the front must be green. This rule is strictly enforced, and contestants will be checked for an extinguisher prior to entering the competition area.
• Propane stoves are allowed.
• All meat must be contained in cooled ice chests.
• Contestants are not allowed to give out samples to the public as per health department regulations.
• See each contest for their specific rules and prizes.

• Pre-registration is requested.
• Entries will also be accepted on the day of the contest at the judging tent.  Contestants may complete an entry form located here and bring the form to the registration table on contest day. Blank entry forms will also be available on-site.

• Enter through Gate 5, located at the intersection of Grand Ave. and Robert B. Cullum Blvd., and proceed to the first stop sign. You will be directed where to park on arrival.
• Gates will open at 6 a.m. on competition day.
• No overnight parking is permitted.

• During the Fair, Cooking Contests are open to amateurs only. No professional cooks or culinary teachers may enter. Please see Definition of Terms section for amateur qualifications.
• The Best of Show winner from 2022 is not eligible to enter the same contest in 2023.
• Contestants cannot enter the same recipe twice in any 2023 contest.
• Mixes or prepared foods may not be used in recipes, unless otherwise specified.
• Due to limited space, only one item per contestant may be refrigerated.
• Read individual contest rules for contest-specific requirements and changes from last year.
• No covers are allowed on containers (i.e., lids, plastic wrap, etc.). The Fair is not responsible for contestants’ containers.
• Decisions of the Director of Creative Arts will be final. No person is allowed to interfere with judges or Fair staff assisting judges during the judging process. Violators will be disqualified and asked to leave the judging area.

Awarded to the top three During-Fair Contestants who accumulate the most participation points from During-Fair Contests.

1st Place		$1,000
2nd Place		$750
3rd Place		$500

Points are calculated as follows:

Best of Show Ribbon = 4 points each

1st Place Ribbon = 3 points each

2nd Place Ribbon = 2 points each

3rd Place Ribbon = 1 point each

The Best Competitor award ceremony will be held following the final contest on Sunday, October 22, 2023, in the Creative Arts Competition Kitchen.

The 2022 1st Place-Best Competitor is not eligible to compete for this award in 2023.

• Contestants are required to include the recipe for each entry typed on an 8.5″ x 11″ sheet of white paper. In addition, the contestant’s name, address, and phone number must be printed on the backside of the recipe.
• All recipes must list all ingredients with instructions in preparation in the order of ingredient usage. Incomplete recipes will not be used in the cookbook.
• Any recipe that has been precisely copied or photo- copied from any magazine, letter, newspaper, cookbook, or other publication will not be accepted.
• Must use U.S. standard measurements in the recipe. The use of metric system measurement is not acceptable.
• By entering a cooking contest(s), each contestant who places or receives an honorable mention hereby grants to the State Fair of Texas a perpetual, irrevocable, nonexclusive right, and license to use the entry (recipe and/or image) in association with the State Fair of Texas, including without limitation, events, and promotions, in all media now known or later developed. This license includes allowing the State Fair to publish the recipe and/or image in the State Fair of Texas annual cookbook, any special edition cookbooks, recipe blogs on the Fair or its sponsors’ websites, and in third-party media placement. The contestant will receive recognition in published uses of the entry.

• Pre-registration is requested and available online at BigTex.com/CreativeArts.
• Contestants may also register on the day of the contest by bringing a completed during-Fair contest entry form located at the back of the guide. Blank entry forms will also be available in the contest area on contest day.
• Contestants must register and turn in completed entries by 10:30 a.m. on contest day as specified.
• Nopreparationofentrywillbeallowedafter10:30a.m. unless approved by the Director of Creative Arts.
• Blank forms are available in the Competition Kitchen.