The Good, The Loud, and the Ugly

With such an array of talent in the bluegrass, conventional categories cannot hold back these Kentuckians. The Kentucky State Fair is home to several unique categories of competition for those with both traditional talents, such as pageantry, to those with, well, quirkier talents, like owning the rooster that can crow the most. Either way, all are welcomed to put their originality on display at the 105th Kentucky State Fair.

For those with the unique talent of making or spotting ugly there is always the Ugly Lamp Contest presented by Lynn’s Paradise Cafe. Crowds ogle the “born ugly” displays trying to figure out who would’ve at one time purchased such a lamp for their living room and get creative ideas from those that are in the “made ugly” category. The teasing is all in good fun when the lamps are on display in South Wing B for the duration of the fair with judging taking place on Saturday, August 22 at 3:00 p.m.

For all of the glitz and none of the drama of the Miss USA pageant there is the Little Miss and Mister Kentucky County State Fairs Pageant. Talented children between 5 and 8-years-old from all around Kentucky will sparkle as they make their mark at the Kentucky State Fair. Contestants are the finalists from their local county fair pageants and are here to take home the title of Little Miss or Little Mister Kentucky. The pageant begins Thursday, Aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the South Wing Conference Center. Fortunately, no appearances by Donald Trump or his hair will be made.

Those tots aren’t the only ones who can entertain a crowd. The Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Gospel Quartet Contest is held Thursday, Aug. 27 at 9:15 a.m. on the Chevrolet Family Stage in the South Wing. The winning quartet will move on to the National Gospel Quartet Contest and will perform at the Farm Bureau State Convention. Hopefully nobody confuses a corndog for a microphone.

If a lunch of meat-on-a-stick, funnel cake, and monkey-nuts makes you feel sleepy, then get a mid-afternoon wake-up call at the Kentucky State Fair Rooster Crowing Contest. Perhaps the loudest special contest, a rooster must crow the most times in 15 minutes during the daily competitions to get into the finals. The daily competitions are Aug. 20-23 with the finalists determined on Aug. 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the Pavilion. Trust us, there is no chance you’ll miss this because you were sleeping in.

Just because you’ve never made a quilt before, doesn’t mean you can’t be a winner on the first try. The Mrs. Wyndall Smith Quilt Award Presentation is for first-time quilters. A rosette and silver tray will be given in a ceremony for best “first quilt” on Aug. 21 at 10:00 p.m. Bonus points if your quilt is inspired by the Oak Ridge Boys’ new album.

For kids who are better at spinning a yarn than knitting, there is the Kentucky Division Competition of the National Youth Storytelling Showcase. At least these kids are easier to listen to than the rooster crowing contest. Sponsored by the Kentucky Storytelling Association, this contest is open to young people 17 and under. Storytellers are judged based on ability and ambassadorship. The competition is held Friday, Aug. 28 from 10:00 a.m. to noon in Newmarket Hall. Winners at the state level will go on to compete at the national competition. The most long-winded contestant will also receive an automatic seat in the U.S. congress.

For more information on these and other exciting events and attractions at the Kentucky
State Fair, visit www.kystatefair.org.