GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Growing up, one of my favorite times of the year was when the Delaware State Fair rolled around. Being in 4-H and later FFA, I spent almost the entire summer getting my vegetables, woodworking projects and sheep ready for exhibiting.

While those times as a youth exhibitor have passed for me personally, there is a still an opportunity for everyone in Clay County to get ready to exhibit plants in the horticultural department for the Clay County Agricultural Fair. This year’s fair will be held March 30 through April 8 at the county fairgrounds.

To enter plants in the fair, you must either live or work in Clay County. Also, adult exhibitors 19 years old and up must have grown the plant themselves for at least 6 months and youth entrants 18 years old and younger must have grown the plant a minimum of 3 months.

Entries can be brought in and accepted on the day of check-in or online entries can be placed at www.claycountyfair.org by March 24. Check-in day for plants is March 26 between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. and March 27, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., the day when exhibitor will be given an exhibit number and tags for their plants.

Each exhibitor is limited to 25 total entries and you can enter more than one plant in a section but no more than one of any particular variety or color. For example, you may enter several entries into the foliage plant class but cannot have two of the same variety in that class.

Plants must be pest and disease free and will be inspected at registration and disqualified if found to be infested. Entries must be clean, groomed and in an appropriate container – broken containers will not be accepted. Also note that, even though there is no size limit, any plant container over 18-inches must be set in place by the owner.

When bringing in plants, it is important to know the name of the plant and in which class it should be entered.

Judging will take place March 20 from 9 a.m. until noon and ribbons should be placed before the opening of fair. Plants are judged on the basis of their form, health, attractiveness of display, size, growth difficulty and condition. Entries should also not be recently re-potted.

During the fair, your entries will be cared for by Master Gardener volunteers but you can request to do your own watering. I would also like to note that work is being done to reduce the level of light and temperature in the building to make the fair a much less stressful experience for the entries.

Exhibit pick up is on April 9 from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and April 10 from 10 a.m. until noon. You will need to bring the receipt portion of your entry tag. Prize money will also be distributed to you.

Now for the exciting part. If chosen as one of the top 3 plants in a section, you will receive a ribbon and a premium award. First place blue ribbons receive $3, second place red ribbons receive $2, third place yellow ribbons receive $1, and fourth place also receives a yellow honorable mention ribbon. In addition to these premiums, a special merit plant, best in show and superintendent’s award will be given and each exhibit receives a premium and rosette.

If you take full advantage of this opportunity, you could walk away with over $100 in prize money along with the pride that comes with exhibiting your hard work to the citizens of Clay County.

For more information about entering the fair, please visit www.claycountyfair.org. I hope to see many new entries and exhibitors in the Horticulture department this year and please make sure to stop by and visit our Master Gardener and Agricultural displays in the exhibit building and the Early Florida Heritage Garden.

If you have any questions about landscape and garden topics, or need plant or pest materials identified, contact the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Office online at http://www.clay.ifas.ufl.edu, follow us on Facebook, or call by phone at (904) 284-6355.