DOSWELL—What do cut flowers, duct tape, grilled cheese and Plymouth Rock have in common?

They are all part of competition categories at this year’s State Fair of Virginia, which will be held Sept. 27 through Oct. 6.

Competition guides for both adult and youth creative and culinary arts, horticulture and field crops, as well as 4-H and FFA competitions and some of the livestock shows are posted on the State Fair’s website.

Most entries are due in the beginning of September, but it’s not too early to start tapping into your creativity.

“We’re excited about the diversity of all the competition categories, and we know our competitors enjoy the creative outlet that these contests afford them,” said Sarah Jane Thomsen, SFVA manager of agriculture education. “We also are happy to offer some of them ribbons or prize money, but all of them get bragging rights!”

Cut flowers are one of the horticulture categories, and entrants will be judged live on Oct. 2. Participants can submit cut flower specimens in clear vases, or create flower arrangements with homegrown flowers. Plymouth Rock is a breed of chicken that will be part of the poultry shows this year; and duct tape creations are one of the many categories in the youth creative arts competitions.

This year’s culinary contests include a live grilled cheese judging on Sept. 29. Sponsored by the Virginia State Dairyman’s Association, the event is part of “Dairy Days” at the fair, celebrated the first weekend. Twelve contestants will prepare and cook a grilled cheese sandwich using their choice of bread, cheese and any additional ingredients they want to add.

Another Dairy Days culinary category is charcuterie boards. Entrants will prepare a charcuterie board on Oct. 2 using at least six items that are grown or processed in Virginia. Last year’s winner, Michelle Duggins, owner of Michelle’s Table in Fredericksburg, incorporated local goat cheese and caramel apple jam on her board.

A new food competition this year is the Virginia Potatoes Recipe contest sponsored by Dublin Farms’ Virginia’s Finest Potatoes. Dublin Farms is a fifth-generation family farm in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore, where 80% of Virginia potatoes are grown. Contestants must prepare a dish where the potatoes (white, red or yellow but not sweet) are the “star of the show.” They are encouraged to use Dublin Farms’ potatoes from their local grocery store. Entries will be judged on Oct. 1.

The Virginia Peanut Growers Association is once again sponsoring a peanut competition. This year’s theme is “Grab & Go,” and contestants are encouraged to create snacks—hot or cold, sweet or savory—using Virginia peanuts or peanut butter.

Creative arts categories include traditional jewelry making, painting, photography, quilting, sculpture and woodcrafts. But other unique divisions include the new shoebox house or habitat. Youth entrants are required to create a diorama depicting a scene from a house or outdoor venue using a shoebox.

Other Virginia Outdoors craft categories include antler art, and deer, fish or bird mounts. Other divisions cover jewelry crafted with wildlife parts like antlers or feathers, and floral arrangements made with similar components.

Media: Contact Thomsen at 804-994-2800.