Events and Activities : Flower Show Benton County Fair

It is that time again the Benton County Fair open class Flower Show! I've ordered cooler weather! Everyone received a fair book containing the open class departments in the mail the end of June. Hope you saved it for reference! The show is open to all growers residing in BENTON COUNTY ONLY. The show is sponsored by the Vinton and Van Horne Floralia Garden Clubs which are members; National Garden Clubs, Inc., Central Region, FGCI and District II. The show is a standard flower show and accredited NGC judges will judge the show according to the schedule. Please read the rules of the show on pages 51 and 54.

The horticulture specimens will be entered Thursday, July 26 between 7:30 a.m.-9:30a.m. and judged at 10:00 a.m. Exhibits will be released at 8:00 p.m. on Friday July 27 and must be removed by 8:30 p.m. All exhibits must be grown by exhibitor. There will be special awards given by; Fairboard, Nature’s Corner, Fareway Stores, Theisen’s, Alco Discount Store, Blairstown Emporium and Harris Greenhouse in Belle Plaine. .

There is a new division this year Division III, Special Exhibits, Youth where children are divided into three categories (A) Junior- preschool through age 7, (B) Intermediate-ages 8 through 12 and (C) Advanced ages 13 through 17. The Van Horne Floralia Garden Club will give a prize for the outstanding horticulture exhibit in each category and the Vinton Garden Club will give a prize in Design for the outstanding design in each category.

You must note age of child on entry tag. The garden clubs would like to encourage children to enter both in horticulture and design.

The design division entries Saturday July 28 between 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. judged at 10:00 a.m. Exhibits will be released at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 29 and must be removed no later than 5:30 p.m. The designs must be the work of the exhibitor! There will be special awards given by; Fairboard; Barb’s Creations, Nature’s Corner and Roy’s Home town Grocery- Shellsburg.

The best time to pick your flowers so they will condition are early in the morning the day before entering. Put them in clear glass or plastic bottles in tepid water. If you know the cultivar name it adds to the value of the exhibit and is required to receive Best of Show in horticulture. Take a walk through your flower garden, I’m sure there are flowers you can enter in horticulture. Also give designs a chance it is very rewarding!

If you would like to get your entry tags ahead of time to make it faster at check in or have any questions please contact Fran Stueck at 319-472-3032.

See you at the Fair Flower Show in the Open Class Building!