Countywide : Fair Officials Taking Entry Blank Requests

Although it’s just January, Orange County Fair officials are taking requests for competition information and entry blanks for this summer’s exposition.

“We want to get people thinking about what they will enter in the fair now so they have ample time for the specific planning that is required,” said Norb Bartosik, general manager of the fair, scheduled for July 11-20.

In addition to the traditional competitions like arts and crafts, agriculture, floriculture and aquarium fish, several new categories will be open to allow local residents to vie for cash awards, trophies and ribbons.

Beginning this year, the fair will give special merit awards for outstanding floriculture work. The floriculture department will also expand its divisions to include competition for individuals or groups in patio and garden displays, as well as a room and patio display category for retail florists.

Photographers will be able to compete in the fair’s first international color slide competition.

“There are a couple of international slide contests in other local fairs, so we’ve added it to ours,” said Orange County Fair spokeswoman Jill Lloyd. “That will be one competition open to the world.”

Lloyd said the fair, which annually draws about 7,000 exhibitors, will feature a salute to the dairy industry, with the theme “Jump on Over”--a takeoff on the nursery rhyme “The Cow Jumped Over the Moon.”

The entry deadline for most competitions is June 16, and Lloyd said entry fees vary from “free to 25 cents to (as much as) $55.”

The fair’s 1986 premium book, which details the categories of competition, criteria, rules and awards, may be requested through the Orange County Fair headquarters, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, Calif., 92626, or by calling (714) 751-3247. The premium book and entry blank will be distributed in February, with all 1984 and 1985 fair participants automatically receiving entry information.