KY State Fair Wins Seven Awards at Convention

The Kentucky State Fair received international honors at this week’s annual International Association of Fairs and Expositions Convention held in Las Vegas. The Fair was recognized in the communications, agriculture and competitive exhibits categories.

According to a press release, the fair took home three awards in the communications division: second place for the 2014 Kentucky State Fair brochure, third place for the 2014 Kentucky State Fair print newspaper ad and third place for the 2014 Kentucky State Fair T-shirt.  

In the agricultural awards program, the Fair placed second for the Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Competition, a component of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's Farm to School Program. The Kentucky Farm to School Junior Chef Competition, held daily on the Gourmet Garden stage during the 11-day Kentucky State Fair, provides a unique competition for high school students to develop culinary experience and skills and crowns a state Junior Chef champion school.

In addition, the Kentucky State Fair earned a first, second and third place award in the competitive exhibits awards division. The 4-H Cloverville Country Ham exhibit display won first place and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Homegrown by Heroes Display placed second. The fairy garden entry category in the plants and flowers department placed third as a new and unique exhibit among fairs in 2014.

“We are honored to be recognized among the top Fairs in the country,” said Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, president and CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board. “Our Fair showcases the best of Kentucky and these awards showcase the best of the best.”

The IAFE awards competition featured more than 1,000 fairs this year. The international award competition is divided into five divisions based on Fair attendance.

“The Kentucky State Fair is one of the premier fairs in the nation, and these awards prove it,” said Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer. “It’s especially gratifying that the IAFE recognized two Kentucky Department of Agriculture programs that we created last year. Congratulations to all our friends at the Kentucky State Fair for these well-deserved honors.”