How to Enter

2025 New York State Fair Competitions

Additional competition rules and entry links located next to rule books per department further down on the page

In New York State, our competitive spirit is a big part of who we are – and few places is it more evident than at the New York State Fair. Each year, thousands of participants cater to their competitive side by entering in competitions spanning a full range of categories including culinary, fine arts, photography, livestock and more. From delicious desserts, champion cattle or historic antique tractors, the Fair hosts competitions for nearly every interest and age group. Whether it’s a premium cash prize, a coveted blue ribbon, or just good old-fashioned bragging rights at stake, we wish you the best of luck!

All Exhibitors entering a State Fair Competition must have a State Financial System (SFS) number to process any potential premium payments. Please review this SFS Reference Guide for details on how to register to get a SFS number, or to verify information for an existing account.

You can only enter a competition online by clicking the "Enter Online" link from those competitions below.
All entries must be received online before 12:00 midnight on the specified competition deadline date.
All materials and dates are subject to change.
If you have any questions, please contact us by email at nysfairentrydepartment@agriculture.ny.gov or call (315) 728-4383 or (315) 728-4426.

Page Last Updated: August 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.

We Would Like to Thank Our 2025 Agriculture and Art & Home Center Sponsors

Amateur Wine	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Amateur Wine Rules & Regulations	Download	June 4, 2025	Closed
Amateur Wine Classes	Download	-	-
Amateur Wine Shipping and Drop-Off Form	Download	-	-
Amateur Wine Bottle Labels	Download	-	-
Amateur Wine Drop Points	Download	May 23, 2025	-

Commercial Conventional and Organic Fruit, Vegetable, Maple Products & Honey	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Commercial Conventional and Organic Fruit, Vegetable, Maple Products and Honey Rules & Classes	Download	August 4, 2025	Closed

Conventional Forage & Grain	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Conventional Forage and Grain Rules & Classes	Download	August 4, 2025	Closed

Draft Horse Show	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Draft Horse Show Prize List	Download	September 1, 2025	Enter Online
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Draft Pony Halter & Hitch Show	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Draft Pony Prize List	Download	August 27, 2025	Enter Online
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Horse Pulling Championships	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Horse Pulling Championships Prize List	-	August 24, 2025	Enter Online
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Hunter/Jumper USEF Regional Rated Horse Show	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Hunter/Jumper Prize List	Download	August 20, 2025	Enter Online
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Beef Cattle	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Beef Cattle Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 5, 2025	Closed
Animal Health Requirements, Cattle ID Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-
Note that there will be no late Beef Cattle entries for 2025

Dairy Cattle	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Dairy Cattle Information, Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 11, 2025	Closed
Animal Health Requirements, Cattle ID Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
New York State HPAI Testing Requirements	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-
Note that there will be no late Dairy Cattle entries for 2025

Dairy Goats	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Dairy Goat Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	July 25, 2025	Closed
American Dairy Goat Association Show Rules	Download	-	-
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Llamas	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Llama Rules & Classes	Download	July 3, 2025	Closed
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Meat Goats	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Meat Goats Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 4, 2025	Closed
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Sheep	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Sheep Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 4, 2025	Closed
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Swine	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Swine Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	July 26, 2025	Closed
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines	Download	-	-
Arrival & Departure Schedule	Download	-	-
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map	Download	-	-

Antique Tractors	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Antique Tractor Rules & Regulations	Download	August 20, 2025	Enter Online

* NOTICE: Important 2025 Flower Show Information *	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Please be advised the only flowers shows being held this year are the ones listed below.	-	-	-
FOR ANY OTHER SHOWS, STAY TUNED NEXT YEAR FOR UPDATES.

Iroquois Indian Village	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Iroquois Indian Village Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 20, 2025	-
Entry applications available through the Six Nations Agricultural Society. For more info contact Suzanne Holton at (716) 542-2264

Talent Showcase	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Talent Showcase Information & Rules	Download	August 21, 2025	Enter Online
To enter the Talent Showcase, an individual must first compete and be one of the top 15 winners in a County Fair Mini or Maxi Talent Show. You may compete at any County Fair if the county you reside in does not have a competition, you must however, be a resident of New York State. An individual cannot compete in more than one county fair. It is at the discretion of each county fair whether or not to accept individuals that reside in another county. Upon winning, and if you are eligible, the County Fair Talent Show Chairperson will forward the appropriate paperwork to the New York State Fair. If you need information on finding the Talent Show in your county, please refer to this website - www.nyfairs.org/fairs_by_name.htm. If you have any registration questions, please contact mbuchmann888@gmail.com.

Arts & Crafts	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Arts & Crafts Rules and Classes	Download	July 28, 2025	Closed
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Copyright Permission Form	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Shipping and Drop-Off Form	Download	-	-
Arts & Crafts No Photo Consent Form	Download	-	-
Arts & Crafts Quilt Display Example	Download	-	-
NEW! "Ribbon Revival" Competition is limited to 10 adult and 5 youth entries. Materials for this competition must be picked up from July 31 through August 2 from 9 am-3pm in the Wegmans Art & Home Center.

Arts & Crafts - County Fairs	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
County Fair Competition Information	Download	August 18, 2025	-
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule	Download	-	-
County Fair Exhibitor Information Sheet	Download	-	-
County Fair Shipping Form & Entry Label	Download	-	-
Note there are no online entries for this competition. All entries MUST be forwarded by the sponsoring county fair to qualify and must be at New York State Fair by August 18.

Bucket of Junk	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Bucket of Junk Rules & Class	Download	July 28, 2025	Closed
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule	Download	-	-
Note that this competition is limited to 15 adult entries and 5 youth entries. Materials for this competition must be picked up from July 31 through August 2 from 9am-3pm at the Wegmans Art & Home Center.

Culinary	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Culinary Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 6, 2025	Closed
Culinary Recipe Template Form	Download	-	-
Culinary Competitions Schedule	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Shipping and Drop-Off Form	Download	-	-

Fine Arts	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Fine Arts Rules & Classes	Download	July 28, 2025	Closed
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Copyright Permission Form	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Shipping and Drop-Off Form	Download	-	-
Fine Arts Display Example	Download	-	-

Photography	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Photography Rules & Classes	Download	July 28, 2025	Closed
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Shipping and Drop-Off Form	Download	-	-
Photography Consent Form	Download	-	-
Photography Display Example	Download	-	-

Poetry	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Poetry Rules & Classes	Download	July 28, 2025	Closed
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations	Download	-	-
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule	Download	-	-

Dairy Products	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Dairy Products (Cheese & Culture entries) Information, Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	May 26, 2025	Closed
Dairy Products (Ice Cream entries) Information, Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	June 22, 2025	Closed

Artistic Design	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
Artistic Design Rules, Regulations & Classes	Download	August 11, 2025	Closed

CNY Gladiolus Society Show	Form/File	Deadline	Enter Online
CNY Gladiolus Society Show Rules & Classes	Download	August 2, 2025	Closed

2025 New York State Fair Competitions

Enter Open Competitions online

Enter Open Horse Show Competitions online

Enter NYS Youth Competitions online

Additional competition rules and entry links located next to rule books per department further down on the page

We Would Like to Thank Our 2025 Agriculture and Art & Home Center Sponsors

Agricultural - Farm Products

Amateur Wine

Commercial Conventional and Organic Fruit, Vegetable, Maple Products & Honey

Conventional Forage & Grain

Agricultural - Horse Shows

Draft Horse Show

Draft Pony Halter & Hitch Show

Horse Pulling Championships

Hunter/Jumper USEF Regional Rated Horse Show

Agricultural - Livestock

Beef Cattle

Dairy Cattle

Dairy Goats

Llamas

Meat Goats

Sheep

Swine

Antique Tractors

Antique Tractors

Art & Home Center

Arts & Crafts

Arts & Crafts - County Fairs

Bucket of Junk

Culinary

Fine Arts

Photography

Poetry

Dairy Products

Dairy Products

Flower Show

*** NOTICE: Important 2025 Flower Show Information ***

Artistic Design

CNY Gladiolus Society Show

Cut Garden Flowers

Empire State Gladiolus Show

Iroquois Indian Village

Iroquois Indian Village

Poultry, Pigeons, Rabbits & Cavies

Cavies

Poultry

Rabbits

Talent Showcase

Talent Showcase

Youth Livestock

NYS 4-H Dog Show

NYS 4-H Horse Show

Youth Beef Cattle

Youth Dairy Cattle

Youth Goats

Youth Poultry

Youth Poultry Science Contest

Youth Rabbit & Cavy

Youth Sheep

Youth Swine

Be the First to Know

* NOTICE: Important 2025 Flower Show Information *