august 19, 2026

Open Class Foods Judging

The open-class foods division offers a category for every taste preference and kitchen skill. Whether you love to impress your family with decorative cakes or want to make your guests emotional over canned salsa that’s so good the flavor lingers for days, there’s a category for you.

Breads, cakes, and cookies are judged based on their shape, surface, and volume, as well as their texture, grain, color, and, of course, flavor. Decorated cakes are evaluated for their decoration and frosting quality, while canned goods are assessed for fullness, uniformity, packing proportion, product flavor, syrup clarity, and overall neatness of the exhibit. For more detailed information, please refer to the open-class exhibitor book.

Judging will take place on Wednesday of the fair at 9 a.m. In addition to first, second, third, and fourth place awards in each category, “Best Exhibit” awards will also be presented in some classes. Exhibitors and fairgoers are encouraged to sit and watch the judging process.

Sponsors for the food division include RED STAR®, Wilson®, the Dodge and Jefferson Beekeeper’s Association, Jarden Home Brands, and Ball®.