How to Enter

How to Enter 2

2026 New York State Fair Competitions

    • Enter Open Competitions online - coming soon

    • Enter Open Horse Show Competitions online - coming soon

    • Enter NYS Youth Competitions online - coming soon

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

Press Center 1

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: January 27, 2026 | 2:30 p.m.

Agricultural - Farm Products

Amateur Wine

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Amateur Wine Rules & Regulations - - -
Amateur Wine Classes - - -
Amateur Wine Shipping and Drop-Off Form - - -
Amateur Wine Bottle Labels - - -
Amateur Wine Drop Points - - -

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 - - -

Conventional Forage & Grain

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Conventional Forage and Grain Rules & Classes - - -

Agricultural - Horse Shows

Draft Horse Show

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

Draft Pony Halter & Hitch Show

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Draft Pony Prize List - - -
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines Download - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Horse Pulling Championships

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

Hunter/Jumper USEF Regional Rated Horse Show

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Hunter/Jumper Prize List - - -
Animal Health Requirements & Guidelines Download - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Agricultural - Livestock

Beef Cattle

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

Dairy Goats

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

Llamas

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

Meat Goats

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

Sheep

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

Swine

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

Antique Tractors

Antique Tractors

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Antique Tractor Rules & Regulations - - -

Art & Home Center

Arts & Crafts

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Arts & Crafts Rules and Classes - - -
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations - - -
Art & Home Center Copyright Permission Form - - -
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule - - -
Art & Home Center Shipping and Drop-Off Form - - -
Arts & Crafts No Photo Consent Form - - -
Arts & Crafts Quilt Display Example - - -
"Ribbon Revival" Competition is limited to 10 adult and 5 youth entries. Materials for this competition must be picked up from August 6 through August 8 from 9 am-3pm in the Wegmans Art & Home Center.

Arts & Crafts - County Fairs

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
County Fair Competition Information - - -
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations - - -
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule - - -
County Fair Exhibitor Information Sheet - - -
County Fair Shipping Form & Entry Label - - -
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 24.

Bucket of Junk

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Bucket of Junk Rules & Class - - -
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations - - -
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule - - -
Note that this competition is limited to 15 adult entries and 5 youth entries. Materials for this competition must be picked up from August 6 through August 8 from 9am-3pm at the Wegmans Art & Home Center.

Culinary

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

Fine Arts

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

Photography

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

Poetry

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Poetry Rules & Classes - - -
Art & Home Center General Rules and Regulations - - -
Art & Home Center Exhibitor Schedule - - -

Dairy Products

Dairy Products

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Dairy Products (Cheese & Culture entries) Information, Rules, Regulations & Classes - - -
Dairy Products (Ice Cream entries) Information, Rules, Regulations & Classes - - -

Flower Show

Artistic Design

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Artistic Design Rules, Regulations & Classes - - -

CNY Gladiolus Society Show

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
CNY Gladiolus Society Show Rules & Classes - - -

Cut Garden Flowers

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Garden Flowers Rules & Classes - - -

Empire State Gladiolus Show

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Empire State Gladiolus Show Rules & Classes - - -

Iroquois Indian Village

Iroquois Indian Village

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

Poultry, Pigeons, Rabbits & Cavies

Cavies

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Cavies Catalog - Rules & Regulations - - -
Cavies Classes - - -

Poultry

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Poultry Rules, Regulations & Classes - - -

Rabbits

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Rabbits Catalog - Rules & Regulations - - -
Rabbit Classes - - -

Talent Showcase

Talent Showcase

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Talent Showcase Information & Rules - - -
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.

Youth Livestock

NYS 4-H Dog Show

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
NYS 4-H Dog Show Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -

NYS 4-H Horse Show

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
NYS 4-H Horse Show Premium Book - - -
NYS 4-H Horse Show Rule Book - - -
NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show General Information - - -
NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show Exhibitor Information - - -
NYS Fair 4-H Horse Show Schedule of Classes - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Youth Beef Cattle

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Beef Cattle Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Youth Dairy Cattle

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Dairy Cattle Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Youth Goats

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Goat Premium Book - - -
Youth Goat Exhibitor Letter - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Youth Poultry

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Poultry Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -

Youth Poultry Science Contest

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
NYS 4-H Poultry Science Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -

Youth Rabbit & Cavy

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Rabbit & Cavy Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -

Youth Sheep

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Sheep Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -

Youth Swine

 Form/File Deadline Enter Online
Youth Swine Premium Book - - -
Youth Animal Science Schedule - - -
Arrival & Departure Schedule - - -
Livestock Arrival Routes & Release Zones Map - - -