Department Y – Preschool & Elementary
The Graham County Fair is proud to showcase the creativity of our youngest artists. Classroom Entries provide an opportunity for preschool and elementary students to display their work as a class. While no premiums or tickets are awarded in this department, the goal is to inspire children to continue creating and eventually participate in the Fine Arts Divisions.
Classroom Entries Guidelines
- No coloring pages, printed templates, or “minimal effort” entries will be accepted.
- Exceptions: Pre-K, Kindergarten, the Special Needs Division, and Collage Projects may use templates as a layout.
- Artwork should demonstrate time, effort, and student ability.
- Each student may enter one piece of art in this department.
- Each class will be judged as a group. The top three pieces will receive 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons.
- All participants will receive a participation ribbon.
- Mounting requirements:
- Mount artwork on a background with glue stick (no tape or staples).
- Background borders: ½ inch on top and sides, 1¼ inch on the bottom.
- Finished size (including background): no larger than 12" x 15".
- Labels:
- Place a 1" x 2⅝" address label on the bottom right border.
- Typed in Times New Roman, 14 pt.
- Include: school name, teacher’s name, student’s name, grade level (and class period, if applicable).
Preparing Classroom Folders
- Place all entries for a class in a manila folder, secured with a binder clip.
- On the folder front, include: teacher name, school name, grade level, and number of entries.
- Teachers with multiple class periods: prepare a separate folder for each period and note the period on both the labels and folder front.
Important Dates
- Online Registration Deadline: Sunday, September 21, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.
- Folder Pick-Up by GCF Staff: Wednesday, September 24, 2025, by 3:00 p.m.
- Late Drop-Off: Deliver directly to the Graham County Fairgrounds by Friday, September 26, 2025, at 12:00 p.m.
- Retrieve Classroom Entries: Sunday, October 12, 2025, from 5:00–7:00 p.m.
Mounting Help
- Apply glue stick evenly to the back of the artwork.
- Center artwork on the background and press firmly.
- Correct mounting has clean, even borders. Incorrect mounting (crooked, taped, or unmeasured) will not be judged.
Accepted Mediums
- Pencil, Colored Pencil, Marker, Crayon
- Watercolor, Oil Pastel, Soft Pastel, Tempera, Acrylic Paint
- Scratchboard, Collage, Charcoal
- Relief Paper Sculpture
- Mixed Media (two or more mediums)
- Other (if not listed above)
Classroom Displays (Optional)
Teachers may also hang a classroom display of student work:
- Displays are not judged and do not require registration or labeling.
- Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis after judged entries are placed.
- Include teacher name, school, and grade level on the back of your display.
- Set-up: Thursday, October 9, from 9:00–11:00 a.m.
- Take-down: Sunday, October 12, from 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Questions?
Call/Text Aubrey at 208-403-8083
