The Clay County Agricultural Fair presents a competitive contest for the 2012 Fair, the Scholastic Chess Tournament.  All area students are invited to participate on Saturday, April 7, from 10:00am – 2:00 p.m. at the Clay County Fairgrounds Community Stage. Tournament participants receive FREE admission to the Fair and every contestant receives an award for participation.  Parents can order admission tickets in advance from the Fair’s website www.claycountyfair.org or pay at the gate. 

Prerequisites are knowledge of chess rules (especially check, checkmate, and stalemate,) and a desire to meet other students who share a love for this challenging activity. Participants play four games and compete with students in their respective grade divisions (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12). Registration forms and $12.00 entry fee must be received by Monday, April 2. Prizes will be awarded to individual division winners. 

For registration procedures, forms, and tournament rules, visit http://www.claycountyfair.org and click on “Contest”, and “Chess Tournament” or select ‘Tournaments’  at the organizer’s website:  www.mychessclub.us   When choosing “by-mail” option, registration forms and  checks ( made payable to “MyChessClub.US ” ) should be sent to: MyChessClub.us, 4446 Hendricks Ave. #141; Jacksonville, FL 32207 or use PayPal online via the link from www.mychessclub.us Tournament Site will be at the Clay County Fairgrounds on the Community Stage, 2493 State Road 16,Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. Contest organizers contact information is as follows:      

Questions:

      George Foote, chess coach, webmaster 

                                    Landon Middle School / Hendricks Ave. Elementary 

      904-396-5420 (h) 304-1639 (c)  george@mysanmarco.com                             

                                    Scott Pfeiffer, Tournament Director 

                                    904-722-8275 (h) 982-9901 (c)   yavolimte@aol.com

2012 Scholarship Program

The Clay County Fair Association is proud to announce its 2012 Scholarship Program.  The program  is open to graduating senior students of  a Clay County High School  or Home Schooled  Seniors,  who are associated with the following Clay County groups: 4-H, FFA, F C C L A, or Police Explorers .

Applications are now being accepted. Details are available on-line at www.claycountyfair.org , the fair office, or the guidance office at the local high schools.

The completed applications must be received at the Clay County Fair Association office by February 24, 2012.

Mail to:

Clay County Fair Association

P.O. Box 1066

Green Cove Springs, Fl. 32043

Or Hand Deliver to:

2493 State Road 16 West,

Green Cove Springs, FL. 32043.

This year  the Fair Association will recognize the scholarship winners at  its Annual Appreciation Luncheon on March 20, 2012. The fair is scheduled for March 29 – April 7, 2012.

For additional information contact the fair office at 904-284-1615.

To Enter Something in the Fair?  

  Well, it’s easier than you think. Last year there were over 3,000 exhibits.

The 26^th Annual Clay County Agricultural Fair invites adults and children to enter the many Contests, 4-H /FFA and/or Open Shows. It’s a great way to show your talents.

Contests include: Hog Calling, Husband Calling, Diaper Derby, Toddler Trot, Clay’s Got Talent Show, the popular Hay Bale Decorating Contest.

Open Shows: Dairy Goat Show, Meat Goat Show, Egg Show, Fair Theme Art Contest, Home Arts (Adult & Youth Division), Honey Show, Horticulture Show,  Painting & Photography Show, Poultry Show, Rabbit Show, and the Red Hat Competition.

4-H/FFA Contests & Shows:  4-H Horse Show, 4-H Projects Exhibit Show, 4-H/FFA Dairy Show, 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contest, 4-H/FFA Poultry Judging Contest, 4-H/FFA Rabbit Fashion Show.

Some shows have early entry deadlines. For complete details of the rules, dates and entry forms of each contest and show visit our website @ www.claycountyfair.org/exhibitors-handbook.htm  or call the fair office 904-284-1615.

The fair Opens on March 29th and runs through April 7, 2012. 

Receives International Recognition

The Clay County Agricultural Fair has received several Agricultural Awards of Excellence from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) headquartered in Springfield, Mo. The awards were received for the Clay County Agricultural Fair’s programs as follows:

Agricultural Awards:

First Place

• Early Florida Village Heritage Garden
• Consumer Protection Program
• “Did You Know” Agriculture Education Sign Program

Second Place

• Barnyard Belles Video
• Going Green Program
• Ag Coloring Book
• Ag Photo Series

Third Place

• Non-fair event participation in the Summer Honeybee Keepers Jubilee Workshop

Awards of Distinction for Communications:

First Place

• Single Billboard
• Printed Newsletter
• Best Website

Awards of Distinction for Competitive Exhibits:

First Place

• High School Night of Competition

Second Place

• Horticulture

Third Place

• Red Hat Competition
• Rabbit Fashion Show

The 16 awards are the most the fair has ever won at the international competition. Virginia Hall, Marketing Director, said “The entire team is extremely proud of this recognition for our fair”.

There are a total of 15 Agriculture Award categories, each divided into 5 divisions by attendance that a Fair or Expo can enter. The entries are evaluated and judged by a team of industry leaders. These individuals are selected from the membership of International Association of Fairs and Expositions, which has over 3,000 members from around the globe.

The awards were presented during the Agricultural Awards Breakfast on November 29, 2011 during the 121^ST Annual IAFE Convention held in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Clay County Agricultural Fair can take great pride in knowing that their event has been selected for this prestige honor. These awards are sponsored by John Deere, who is an avid supporter of the Fair and Expo Industry around the world. Pete Sutton accepted the awards on behalf of the team while in Vegas attending the convention. He was pleased that Clay County was one of three fairs in Florida to receive a top agricultural division award for 2011.

The Communication and Competitive Division Awards were received during the Awards Reception on November 30^th. “This was the first time our fair has received awards in these divisions”, Sutton stated.

The Agricultural Fair and Expo Industry are not only very important to rural and urban economics globally, but also are rich in tradition and have a tremendous positive impact on the social well being of our rural and urban society.

Sutton said, “We are proud of this team recognition and will display the plaques in our office lobby for everyone to see. This award is special since we are now in Division 2, which is for fairs 100,000 to 250,000 in attendance. The fair enjoyed another record attendance last year of 108,833.”

The 2012 Clay County Agricultural Fair is scheduled for March 29 – April 7. The theme for 2012 is “Cowbells and Carousels”

For additional information please contact

More updates and improvements are coming soon as well.

Check back soon.