Ventura County Fairgrounds

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Home Arts
(hõm ärts): The traditional handiwork of home makers.

About the Department
Make yourself at home in the Home Arts department! Come join the busy bees who make potholders and quilts, jams and jellies, cakes and pies and any of the other household creations you can imagine!

If you have a family recipe that you are proud of, you are welcome to compete in one of the many cooking competitions; cooked either on-stage or prepared beforehand.

If you like to sew, cook or you are just an all around Suzy Homemaker, now is your chance to show off, and win fame among your friends and family! It’s all good fun and entering is a snap! Just check the Entry Guide on this website for all of the details!

What's Happening

Click on the link on the right hand side (in the yellow box) for the 2012 Entry Guide.

WHEN TO ENTER
Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Textiles and Preserved Foods
Friday, July 20, Saturday, July 21 & Sunday, July 22, 2012
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Special Exhibits
Thursday, July 19, 2012
10 AM to 3:00 PM
Friday, July 20, Saturday, July 21 & Sunday, July 22, 2012
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Baked Foods
Monday, July 30, 2012
7:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Enter online at www.venturacountyfair.org June 1 through July 15, 2012.

When you arrive on the entry days, proceed to whatever area you entered in. Please tell the clerks you have entered online so we can get your paperwork and printed entry tags.
You do not have to enter online to exhibit at the fair - just bring your items on July 20, 21 or 22, 2012 between 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

WHEN TO PICK UP ENTRIES
Monday, August 13, 2012 - 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Claim checks must be presented.
No entry pick-up prior to August 13.
Items unclaimed on August 13 become the property of the Fair and will be disposed.

COOKING CONTESTS

BEST DESSERT
Saturday, August 4, 2012
(This is a ready-made item brought in for judging)

BEST HOT SANDWICH
Saturday, August 4, 2012
(On stage timed cooking contest)

BEST SALSA
Sunday, August 5, 2012
(This is a ready-made item brought in for judging)

BEST CAKE
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
(This is a ready-made item brought in for judging)

BEST HOMEMADE SOUP
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
(On stage timed cooking contest)

BEST SALAD AND HOMEMADE DRESSING
Saturday, August 11, 2012
(This is a ready-made item brought in for judging)

IRON CHEF COMPETITION
Saturday, August 11, 2012
(On stage timed cooking contest - By Invitation Only)
Random drawing for cooking station

TABLESETTING COMPETITIONS
1. “Cupid’s Arrow” Tues., July 31, 2012
2. “Vegas Nights” Sun., Aug. 5, 2012
3. “It’s a Jungle Out There!” Thurs., Aug. 9, 2012

SPECIAL HOME ARTS EVENT
Blessing of the Marriages – 40 years plus
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at
10:30 AM
Contact Exhibit Department at:
(805) 648-3376 ext. 105 by July 30, 2012

Photo Gallery

View the Photo Gallery

MEET THE DEPARTMENTS

Superintendent
Valerie Ulmer
I got involved in working in the home arts dept. through a co-worker, Maxine Ingold, in 1976. She asked me to come and help make posters for the exhibits, so I did. I made posters of what was in the freezer, and who had won. I also hostessed that year. The next year, I helped take entries. I was a typist for the preserved foods. We had to type all the labels for the jars. I did that until the chairman moved and I took the chairman's job. I was chairman for preserved foods for a few years. Then, when May Lee Barry and Diane Korin became superintendents, I became the lunch lady for the home arts. I still do that as superintendent today. I did the lunches and also when Pyillis Kidd took over the contests, I was her helper. I ran the contests she couldn't and helped her do the others. Phyillis and I became co-superintendents in 1995. We worked well as a team; I still miss her today. She passed away during the fair in 2002.

Every fair has special moments. Opening day is always my favorite day! The people who have entered are all excited to find their entries and see if they have won.

I have no main hobbies. I live to cook and try new recipes. I love working in the exhibits dept. We carry on an old tradition from our grandparents and theirs: a county fair for all to come and participate in if they choose to.

The most frequently asked questions are: Where are the restrooms? I can't find my entry, do you know where it is? What's the best food to eat? Is there a pay phone? Are you tired yet?

I have seven chairman, who run individual depts., a gopher staff that helps everyone, and a lot of hard working volunteers that make the home arts dept. run smoothly. If you would like to help out by being a volunteer, please call the fairgrounds and ask for home arts or any department that you have interests in. See you at the fair...Valerie Ulmer.

» Download the Entry Guide

Department Links:
View last year's Fair winners

The Home Arts department is sponsored by Gen On Energy