Open Class Horticulture

    HORTICULTURE

Superintendent: Jeanne Yeoman 
Horticulture Team: Master Gardeners and others that make this come together.

All people residing in Scotts Bluff County are encouraged to enter and exhibit their horticultural and agricultural products at the County Fair. The attractive display creates interest and demonstrates the quality and productivity of the region. There are two ways to exhibit in the Exhibit Hall: by group or individually.

Schedule

1. The Events Center will be open for Horticulture, Floriculture, Field Crop and Poultry Egg entries Tuesday, July 29, 2025 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
2. All group and individual agricultural, horticultural and floriculture crop exhibits must be arranged in the Events Center between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Judging will take place at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
3. All judging will be completed before the first official day of the fair. Public viewing will not be encouraged until this time.   

General Information

1. No exhibit will receive a premium on more than one entry in any one class.
2. All entries listed for premiums will be of the current year’s crop or crops harvested after the previous year’s fair.
3. Exhibits will be released Sunday, August 3, 2025 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Premium payments will be distributed at time of pick up of released exhibits.
4. While the Fair Management (Extension Staff and area superintendents) will use all reasonable precautions against damage, loss or disappearance of any displays or exhibits, they will in no way be responsible for any such damage, loss or disappearance.
5. Follow the guidelines in “Selecting and Preparing Vegetables, Herbs and Fruits for Exhibit” 4H 226 (revised 2022) (Free Download)
6. Premiums will be paid on the number and worth of entries in order that the total premiums will not exceed the fair budget.  Group awards amounts are listed.
7. Please fill out the Horticulture tag (available on-line) before arriving at the fairgrounds.
8. No canned goods.

Group Exhibits

Groups, clubs or organizations have the opportunity to display their products in the Exhibit Hall.  Displays may include flowers, vegetables and agricultural products.  All groups entering will be evaluated against each other as units.
Premiums for Group Exhibits are:
    First Prize - $40.00
    Second Prize -  $30.00
    Third Prize -  $20.00
    Fourth Prize -  $15.00
    
All space will be assigned to each group exhibiting in the Events Center.  Please contact the Superintendent of the Agricultural section for a space assignment by July 25.  Each group exhibiting will be responsible for the displaying and dismantling of their exhibits.  Each exhibit or entry in the group exhibits will be considered collectively as being in Open Class.  It will be the responsibility of the group to appoint someone as clerk to assist in listing all entries displayed in the group exhibit and to assist the judges in locating entries during judging.  Contact the Superintendent of exhibit numbers to be used in each group exhibit.
Group exhibits will be scored according to the following criteria:
    a)    Decoration, attractiveness, arrangement, neatness of exhibit 1-10  
           In scoring under this head, the judges will consider color effect, artistic arrangement of materials,                              effectiveness of expressing the central idea, neatness, attractiveness and other points of influencing general            appearance.
    b)    Quality - 1-10
           The judges will consider the quality of all entries making up the collective exhibit.  The care shown in the                  selection of the entries is reflected in their uniformity or individuals, trueness of type, color and size.
    c)    Varieties of Entries Making up the Exhibit - 1-10
           The number of varieties or classes displayed will be the sole factor in judging this division.
    d)    Quantity - 1-7
           The number of entries, regardless of varieties, will be considered.  (Each chairman of the exhibit will have the             number of entries counted by the judges.)

Preparing Vegetables for Exhibit

Uniformity among exhibitors in preparing vegetables for exhibits is desirable.  The following suggestions should be followed in preparing vegetables for exhibitors: 

Vegetables which may be Washed or Cleaned with Damp Cloth

Beans: When shown on pods, beans should be entire, including the short stem which attached it to the plant trim to ¼ to ½ inch.
Cabbage: Stalk cut 1/4 - 1/2 inch at base of head.  Outer leaves may be removed, but not anymore than necessary to present an attractive appearance.  Outer leaves left on head should be red or green in color.
Cantaloupe/Muskmelon: Exhibit without stems, stem scar must be dry and free from decay.
Cauliflower: Leaves around head may be cut even with edge of the cauliflower head.
Celery, Chinese Cabbage: Remove damaged or outside stalks, leaves or branches but no more than necessary. Carefully cut off roots but not into crown of plant.
Corn: 
*Sweet corn: Leave the husks on and do not cut any “windows” in the husks. Remove only loose husks. Trim silk 1” from tip of husk and shank 1-2” from base of the ear.  
*Other: The husk should be left intact and not peeled back when exhibited.  
*Popcorn: Display in the ear and husked.
Kale, Parsley, Chard: Exhibit with stems in a jar of cold water to prevent wilting.
Kohlrabi: Root should be cut to ½ inch in length.
Onions: Harvest onions 2 weeks in advance of fair to allow for curing. Remove no more than one layer of papery skin to clean. Don’t wash.  Leave 1 inch at top and trim roots to 1/4 inch.
Peppers: Must have stem ½ inch long.
Spinach (2 plants), Endive: Trim the base 1/8-1/4” from the bottom leaf. Exhibit with base in water.
Summer Squash: Squash must be 4-8" in length with a soft skin.  Large, over-mature summer squash represents poor quality and will be judged accordingly.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes should be exhibited without stems.  They should be displayed with the blossom end up.
Vine Crops: Must have at least 1 inch stem.  This includes squash, pumpkin and watermelon.
    
For more information obtain Selecting & Preparing Vegetables, Herbs & Fruits for Exhibit 4-H226 at the County Extension Office.

Vegetables Which Are Not Washed

The following vegetables should not be scrubbed. They may be dunked in a pail of clean water and should be cleaned with a soft brush or cloth

The tops of carrots, parsnips, rutabagas, salsify, beets and turnips are cut back to one inch in length.  Side roots should be carefully removed so that the skin of the vegetables is not scuffed or broken.

Display Vegetables for Exhibit

Wherever possible, list the variety of the vegetables on the entry card.  (Example: Green pepper, var. “California Wonder”).
    
Premiums: Grand Champion - $6.00, Youth Grand Champion - $6.00, Reserve Champion - $5.00, Youth Reserve Champion - $5.00, Double Purple - $4.00, Purple - $3.00,  Blue -  $2.00, Red -  $1.00 

Vegetables

Beans (6 in pod)
    Class 1200 - Snap Green Beans
    Class 1201 - Snap Yellow Beans
    Class 1202 - Lima Beans
    Class 1203 - Other Beans
Beets (5)
    Class 1204 - Table Beets
    Cabbage (1)
    Class 1205 - Flat
    Class 1206 - Round
    Class 1207 - Red
    Class 1208 - Chinese
Carrots (5)
    Class 1209 - Long
    Class 1210 - Half long
    Class 1211 - Short
Corn (5)
    Class 1212 - Sweet, in husk
    Class 1213 - Other, in husk
Cucumbers
    Class 1214 - Slicing (2)
    Class 1215 - Pickling (5)
    Class 1216 - Others (2)
Muskmelon (1) 
    Class 1217 - Midget
    Class 1218 - Honeydew
    Class 1219 - Cantaloupe (Muskmelon) – no stem
    Class 1220 - Others 
Onions (Mature Bulbs)
    Class 1221 - Yellow (4)
    Class 1222 - Red (4)
    Class 1223 - White (4)
    Class 1224 - Green (4)
    Class 1225 - Other (5)
Peas
    Class 1226 - Shelled peas (1/4 cup)
    Class 1227 - Edible Pod (6)
    Class 1228 - Other (6)
Peppers
    Class 1229 - Bell (2)
    Class 1230 - Hot (5)
    Class 1231 - Banana (5)
    Class 1232 - Cherry (5)
    Class 1233 - Sweet (5)
    Class 1234 - Other (2)
Potatoes (3)
    Class 1235 - Russet 
    Class 1236 - White
    Class 1237 - Red
    Class 1238 - Other
Pumpkins
    Class 1239 - Pie (2)
    Class 1240 - Jack-O-Lantern (1)
    Class 1241 - Miniature (3)
    Class 1242 - Other (1)
Squash
    Class 1243 - Acorn (1)
    Class 1244 - Banana (1)
    Class 1245 - Buttercup (1)
    Class 1246 - Butternut (1)
    Class 1247 - Spaghetti (2)
    Class 1248 - Crookneck (2)
    Class 1249 - Summer (2)
    Class 1250 - Zucchini (2)
    Class 1251 - Other (1)
    Class 1252 - Other (2) 
Tomatoes Species true, but green acceptable
    Class 1253 - Green (5)
    Class 1254 - Cherry (6)
    Class 1255 - Slicing (2" or larger) (5)
    Class 1256 - Salad (less than 2") (5)
    Class 1257 - Canning (paste) (5)
    Class 1258 - Roma (5)
    Class 1259 - Other (5)
Watermelon (1)
    Class 1260 - Round
    Class 1261 - Long
    Class 1262 - Ice Box
Miscellaneous
    Class 1263 - Artichoke (1)
    Class 1264 - Asparagus (5)
    Class 1265 - Broccoli (2)
    Class 1266 - Brussels Sprouts (6)
    Class 1267 - Cauliflower (1)
    Class 1268 - Celery (1)
    Class 1269 - Chard (2)
    Class 1270 - Eggplant (2)
    Class 1271 - Eggplant (Japanese) (3)
    Class 1272 - Endive (1)
    Class 1273 - Small Gourds (4)
    Class 1274 - Large Gourds (2)
    Class 1275 - Kale (1)
    Class 1276 - Kohlrabi (4)
    Class 1277 - Leek (5)
    Class 1278 - Lettuce, head (1)
    Class 1279 - Lettuce, leaf (1 plant)
    Class 1280 - Parsnips (5)
    Class 1281 - Popcorn (5)
    Class 1282 - Radish (5)
    Class 1283 - Radish (Japanese) (1)
    Class 1284 - Rhubarb (2)
    Class 1285 - Salsify (5)
    Class 1286 - Spinach (1)
    Class 1287 - Turnips (5)
    Class 1288 - Okra (5)
    Class 1289 - Exotic (2)
    Class 1290 - Others (1)
    Class 1291 - Others (2)
    Class 1292 - Heirloom Vegetables (5)

    Herbs

Herbs will be judged using the same general criteria used for vegetables. Those grown mainly for their seeds such as dill and caraway should be exhibited on a plate. Those grown for their leaves such as basil, parsley, etc. should be exhibited in a glass container of water. 
Premiums: Grand Champion - $6.00, Youth Greand Champion - $6.00, Reserve Champion - $5.00, Youth Reserve Champion $5.00, Double Purple - $4.00, Purple - $3.00,  Blue -  $2.00, Red -  1.00
    Class 1293 - Dill (fresh) (3 stalks)
    Class 1294 - Garlic (6 cloves)
    Class 1295 - Garlic Bulbs (5)
    Class 1296 - Flat Leaf Parsley (3)
    Class 1297 - Curly Leaf Parsley (3)
    Class 1298 - Sage (3)
    Class 1299 - Anise (3)
    Class 1300 - Basil (3)
    Class 1301 - Chives (3)
    Class 1302 - Mint (3)
    Class 1303 - Oregano (3)
    Class 1304 - Thyme (3)
    Class 1305 - Yarrow (3)
    Class 1306 - Coriander (3)
    Class 1307 - Cilantro (3)
    Class 1308 - Fennel (3)
    Class 1309 - Hyssop (3)
    Class 1310 - Lavender (3)
    Class 1311 - Rosemary (3)
    Class 1312 - Tarragon (3)
    Class 1313 - Others
Other Crops and Nuts
    Class 1314 - Peanuts (1 plant)
    Class 1315 - Soybeans (1 qt. threshed)
    Class 1316 - Sunflower (1 plant)
    Class 1317 - Sunflower (largest head - head only)
    Class 1318 - Sunflower (tallest plant)
    Class 1319 - Other
Novelty
    Class 1320 - Novelty exhibit
    Class 1321 - Other
            
Audrey Keener Exhibit Contest (Under 12 years of age)
All big vegetables may be exhibited in the “Audrey Keener” contest.  One or more vegetables are/is required for exhibit.  Entries must be weighed and judged according to their weight. Limit 1 entry per exhibitor.   
    Class 1322 - Audrey Keener Contest                   $3.00        
    
Ugly Vegetable Contest  (Under 12 years of age)
All entries must be unique and unusual vegetables.  Limit 1 entry per exhibitor.    
    Class 1323 - Ugly Vegetable Contest                   $3.00      
    
Creative Veggie Contest (Under 12 years of age)
Use your imagination to create a dog, cat, sheep, monster or whatever using only vegetables.    Limit 1 entry per exhibitor.   
    Class 1324 - Creative Veggie Contest                $3.00          

Field Crops

Premiums: Grand Champion - $6.00, Youth Grand Cham

pion - $6.00, Reserve Champion - $5.00, Youth Reserve Champion - $5.00, Double Purple - $4.00, Purple - $3.00, Blue -  $2.00, Red -  $1.00
    
Alfalfa and Sweet Clover Threshed Grain - a sample consists of one quart
    Class 1601 - Alfalfa
    Class 1602 - Yellow Sweet Clover

    Class 1603 - White Sweet Clover
Sheaf Forage A sheaf will not be less than 2" in diameter at centerband
    Class 1604 - 3 Sheaves Alfalfa (3 cuttings) Need an example of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cutting, each identified.
    Class 1605 - 1 Sheaf Sweet Clover (yellow)
    Class 1606 - 1 Sheaf Sweet Clover (white)

    (All varieties, each variety judged separately) Only 6/Group Exhibit to be judged
Barley Threshed grain - a sample of consists of two pints
    Class 1607 - 6 Row Barley
    Class 1608 - 2 Row Barley
Sheaf Grain A sheaf will not be less than 2" in diameter at centerband
    Class 1609 - 6 Row Barley
    Class 1610 - 2 Row Barley

Sugar Beets
    Class 1614 - 3-Beet Display
    Class 1615 - One Heaviest Beet Display               $4.00      $3.00      $2.00
    Class 1616 - Prize to group for best exhibit         $4.00      $3.00      $2.00
    (To be judged: Quality, 80 points; number of exhibit, 20 points)
Field Corn - Grain
    Class 1617 - Shelled Yellow Dent (2 pints)
    Class 1618 - Yellow Dent (6 ears)
    Class 1619 - Rainbow Flint (6 ears)

Field Corn - Forage Sheaf A sheaf will consist of six tied green stalks (To be judged on volume and grain content)
    Class 1620 - Yellow Dent
    Class 1621-Group prize/best overall exhibit         $4.00      $3.00      $2.00
    (To be judged: Quality, 80 points; number of entries, 20 points)
Grass (Pasture & Lawn - no Weed Species)

    Class 1622     Grass Seed - ½ cup (4 oz)
    Class 1623     Forage Sheaf - may be less than 2" in diameter by not less than 1" (stripped grass)
    Class 1624     One Display of Grass (Board or arrangement)           $4.00       $3.00       $2.00
    Class 1625     Overall Grass Seed Display                                         $4.00       $3.00       $2.00
(All grass species not listed elsewhere accepted and judged separately - please identify type)
(To be judged for number of types and arrangement)
Millet and Sorghum Threshed Grain - sample will consist of two pints
    Class 1626 - Proso Millet
    Class 1627 - Foxtail Millet
    Class 1628 - Forage Sorghum
    Class 1629 - Grain Sorghum (Milo)
    Class 1630 - Sundangrass
    Class 1631 - Sorghum X Sundangrass Cross
Oats Threshed Grain - sample will consist of two pints
    Class 1632 - White Oats
    Class 1633 - Red Oats
Sheaf Grain - a sheaf will not be less than 2" in diameter at centerband
    Class 1634 - White Oats
    Class 1635 - Red Oats
Rye and Triticale (Wheat X rye cross)Threshed Grain - sample will consist of two pints
    Class 1636 - Rye
    Class 1637 - Triticale
Sheaf Grain - a sheaf will not be less than 2" in diameter at centerband
    Class 1638 - Rye
    Class 1639 - Triticale (Each variety judged separately)
Wheat Threshed Grain - a sample will consist of two pints
    Class 1640 - Winter Wheat
    Class 1641 - Spring Wheat
Sheaf Grain - a sheaf will not be less than 2" in diameter at centerband 
    Class 1642 - Winter Wheat
    Class 1643 - Spring Wheat (Each variety judged separately)
Field Beans A sample will consist of two pints of clean beans.
    Class 1644 - Great Northern
    Class 1645 - Pinto
    Class 1646 - Soybeans
    Class 1647 - Red
    Class 1648 - Others (Each variety judged separately)

Fruits

Premiums: Grand Champion -  $6.00, Youth Grand Champion - $6.00, Reserve Champion - $5.00, Youth Reserve Champion - $5.00, Double Purple -  $4.00, Purple -  $3.00, Blue -  $2.00, Red -  1.00
    
Apples (single plate - 5 apples) List variety whenever possible
    Class 1701 - All Types
Grapes
    Class 1702 - 2 bunches
    Class 1703 - Single Plate (1 cup)
Other Berries (Single plate, 6 berries)
    Class 1704 - Strawberries
    Class 1705 - Wonderberries
    Class 1706 - Raspberries
    Class 1707 - Gooseberries
    Class 1708 - Others
Other Fruits All types - select and adequate amount for exhibit.
    Class 1709 - Other Fruit