State Fair competitions offer blue-ribbon bragging rights

For those who want to win blue-ribbon bragging rights, it’s time to start working on entries for this year’s State Fair of Virginia competitions.

Competition guides with entry deadlines and category descriptions for culinary and creative arts and horticulture entries are now available at statefairofva.org.

Each year, hundreds of Virginians enter the competitions, and their entries are displayed during the fair. Some categories offer winners small cash prizes in addition to bragging-right ribbons. But it’s the blue ribbons that many competitors care about the most.

Ten-time ribbon winner Traci Garland said she likes to work “I’m a State Fair blue-ribbon winner” into conversations….