By BRANDY CAVANAGH
Support Staff – Health and Human Sciences
Purdue Extension Elkhart County
Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds

The Elkhart County 4-H Fair Home & Family Arts Department offers Open Class Special Contests to anyone over the age of 8 years of age in the Michiana area. These special contests are a fun way to show your creativity in cooking, baking and grilling, and even win a great prize sponsored by local businesses.

To enter the contests you do not need to pre-register, just bring your entries to the Home & Family Arts Building on the 4-H Fairgrounds the day of check-in.

The 2015 Elkhart County 4-H Fair President Rich Utley has announced the President’s Baked Item this year will be custard pie. Bring your entry and recipe to check-in from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Thursday, July 23. Open judging begins around noon; entries must be picked up by 1 p.m. The winning entry will be awarded a prize of $10 from the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Board.

Enter our “Dairy Delicious” contest Monday, July 27 with your favorite entry for party foods and entry for main dish. Your entry must contain at least two dairy foods such as milk, cream, cream cheese, cheese, or ice cream. Each entry should have at least six servings. Check-in is from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and judging will begin around noon.

You do not need any baking skills to enter the Longest Apple Peel contest, Tuesday, July 28. We provide the apples and the knife, but for safety reasons, this contest is for adults only. Be sure to read the contest rules and regulations. Check-in is at 11 a.m.; contest begins at 11:15 a.m. The participant with the longest, continuous peel will claim first place.

Tuesday, July 28 will host the 32nd Annual Senior Citizen’s Cookie Contest. Check-in will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 11 a.m. with judging at 11:30 a.m. Participants must be 62 years of age or older and can enter one item in each of the three categories: bar, drop and formed cookies. No brownies are allowed. Each entry should have six cookies on a plate and you must pick up your item by 1 p.m. Grand prize is $10 awarded by the Elkhart County 4-H Fair Board.

Sweet Corn Charlie’s Produce, LLC is sponsoring the “Anything Goes with Locally Grown Zucchini” contest. Your dish can be as creative as you like, but the main ingredient must be zucchini. Bring your dish to the Home and Family Arts Building from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 29. Open judging begins around noon. Top placings will be presented with Sweet Corn Charlie’s Produce gift certificates.

The “Bursting with Blueberries” contest, sponsored by INterra Credit Union is on Friday, July 31. Check-in is from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. with open judging at noon. Anything goes, but the more blueberries the better. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three places.

If you like to grill, don’t miss the outdoor cooking contests on Saturday, Aug. 1. The “Best of Michiana Ribs” and “Byler Lienhart Cook-Off” will begin with check-in at 9 a.m. Byler Lienhart cook-off judging will begin at 11:30 a.m. while ribs judging will begin around noon. Be sure to read all contest rules and regulations. Winners will be awarded cash prizes.

Saturday, Aug. 1 hosts “The Great Homemade Ice Cream Crank-Off” held in front of the Home & Family Arts building. Check-in is from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; the crank-off begins at 11:15 a.m. and must be done by noon for judging. Enter as an individual or a team of no more than three. Specific contest rules and regulations apply. Cash prizes will be giving to first, second and third place winners.

Each entry must be accompanied by a neatly written, printed or typed recipe. Recipes become the property of the Elkhart County Extension Homemakers with the right to use them for fair publicity.

Complete contest rules and regulations are printed annually in the Open Class, Home & Family Arts Department booklet. You can download a copy from our office website at http://www.extension.purdue.edu/elkhart or obtain a copy from our office located inside Gate 2 on the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, 17746 CR 34, Goshen.