NCAOAF - North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs

Fair Awards Program

In an effort to recognize fairs who excel in the fair industry The North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs makes awards presentations at its annual convention. In an effort to make the award program even for all, fairs are divided into four categories and judging is done by a person or persons not involved with a fair in the category of the fair being judged.

Category 1 fairs are fairs whose paid attendance is from 0 to 15, 000 people.
Category 2 fair attendance is between 15,001 - 40,000
Category 3 fairs have attendance of over 40,001
Governmental Fairs

Governmental fairs, or fairs that are operated by city, county, or state governments are in a separate category for the awards program. An Agricultural Award, Youth Award, and a Media Award are presented in these four categories each year. A fourth award, the Image Award, is given in categories 1, 2, and 3 to a fair that is said to have the best fair of its size for that year.

INNOVATION AWARD

2017 Innovation Award Category 1
Chowan County Agriculture Fair

2017 Innovation Award Category 1
Surry County Agriculture Fair

2017 Innovation Award Category 2
Davidson County Agriculture Fair

2017 Innovation Award Category 2
Lee County Agriculture Fair

2017 Innovation Award Category 2
Rowan County Agriculture Fair

2017 Innovation Award Category 3
Cleveland County Agriculture Fair

MOST IMPROVED AWARD

2017 Most Improved Award
Iredell County Agriculture Fair

AGRICULTURE AWARD

The Agriculture Award is given annually to fairs (one in each Category I, II, III, and Governmental) that best showcase agriculture and the agricultural heritage of the area served. The fairs have outstanding quality and quantity of agricultural-related competitive exhibits and displays. Also, the fairs have agricultural-related commercial exhibits and involve agricultural agencies, agricultural commodity groups and organizations. Agricultural products including new and antique (old) agricultural machinery and equipment are displayed and farm-related demonstrations are on-going. Livestock and poultry exhibits and/or livestock shows are representative of the area served. Agricultural-related contests and entertainment are carried out at the fairs to further showcase agriculture. Landscaping and/or decorations are another way agricultural products are showcased. New areas for agricultural competitions and/or displays, as well as, innovative ideas expressing our agricultural heritage play a prominent role at these fairs and add variety and educational value.

2017 Agriculture Award Category 1
Lenoir County Agriculture Fair

2017 Agriculture Award Category 2
Lee County Agriculture Fair

2017 Agriculture Award Category 3
Wayne County Agriculture Fair

2017 Agriculture Award Category Governmental
Dixie Fair

IMAGE AWARD

The prestigious Image Award is given annually to fairs (one in each Category - I, II, and III) that truly represents what a NC Agricultural Fair should be. The Image Award cannot be won by the same fair two years in a row, however, the fair can compete for the Agriculture and Youth Awards. Award winning fairs will have a balance of outstanding agricultural and youth exhibits and displays, livestock exhibits and/or livestock shows, contests, entertainment, commercial displays, a variety of foods, and a good carnival (some small fairs may not have carnivals). Also, the fair will involve many individuals, groups, organizations, and clubs and generally be a cross-section of the area served. The facilities and grounds should be clean, neat, and customer friendly. Customers attending the fair are provided with a safe environment and friendly, inviting atmosphere. The fair will be very progressive and making improvements based on available resources.

The fairs winning the Image Award should be and are striving to epitomize the characteristics of what a good agricultural fair is all about.

2017 Image Award Category 3
Cleveland County Agriculture Fair

2017 Image Award Category 2
Rowan County Fair

2017 Image Award Category 1
Lenoir County Fair

MEDIA AWARD

The Media Award is given annually to fairs (one in each Category I, II, III, and Governmental) that have the best overall advertising and public relations campaigns. Entries are judged on creativity, attractiveness, originality, and overall effectiveness. Entries include catalog or tabloid, newspaper advertising, radio and television advertising, billboards, specialty advertising, news releases and news articles, website information and any other advertising or public relations materials that are used

2017 Media Award Category 3
Roberson County Agriculture Fair

2017 Media Award Category 2
Lee Regional Fair

2017 Media Award Category 1
Chowan County Regional Fair

YOUTH AWARD

The Youth Award is given annually to fairs (one in each Category I, II, III, and Governmental) that best showcases youth and youth activities of the area served. Factors involved in determining youth award winners are (1) numbers of individuals, schools, school organizations and clubs, and other youth organizations such as 4-H, Scouts, etc.,

(2) quality and quantity of competitive exhibits and displays or educational booths, (3) variety of youth contests and overall participation, (4) youth participation in Junior Livestock Shows and/or as livestock exhibitors, (5) involvement in special events and activities for youth, (6) having youth involvement with the fair such as workers, directors, or a Junior Fair Board, and (7) participation in scholarship programs either locally or with the NCAOAF or both.

Since youth are the future of Agricultural Fairs, the winning fairs recognize the importance of youth participation and involvement and strive to improve and add youth activities.