HARVEST FESTIVAL HOME ECONOMICS RULES 2026
SUPERINTENDENT: Mary Beth Mann
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT: Mandy Patrick
Schedule for Wednesday, October 21, 2026
4:00-7:00 PM – Check-In of all home economics entries at the Maude Cobb Convention Center
Schedule for Thursday, October 23, 2026
10:00 AM-1:00 PM – Exhibits Judged
2:00PM – Public viewing of home economics divisions.
3:00-5:00 PM – All home economic entries must be checked out and picked up. Entries not picked up by 5:00 PM will be discarded.
Items are judged by experienced and trained individuals. Entries may receive either a blue (equivalent to 90-100 point range), red (equivalent to 80-89 point range) or white ribbon (equivalent to 70-79 point range). Class winners and Best of Show are awarded in each division. Clover Kids will only receive participation ribbons.
Rules and Regulations
➢ All entries will be subject to the General Rules and Regulations of the Harvest Festival.
➢ ALL HOME ECONOMICS ENTRIES WILL BE PREPAID. ALL ENTRY MONEY WILL BE DUE TO AST/CEA BY OCTOBER 1, 2026
➢ Ribbons will not be awarded when exhibit is deemed unworthy.
➢ Only blue rosette entries will be eligible for Best of Show awards.
➢ Entries should be original work of the exhibitor and completed within the last festival year.
➢ All entries in each division will be divided into two (2) age categories. Junior (age 8 and in 3rd grade to age 13) and Senior (14-19 years of age). This will be determined by ages as of August 31, 2026.
➢ Clover Kids will be K- 2nd and may participate in the Poster contest only. Clover kids cannot sell any items but will receive participation ribbons.
➢ The entry fee is $15.00 PER ENTRY for FOOD CREATIONS, $10.00 PER ENTRY for PHOTOGRAPHY, HORTICULTURE and HANDCRAFTS. The entry fee for other divisions will be $5.00 per entry. Poster Contest for Clover Kids is $1.00 per entry.
➢ The Best of Show-Junior and Best of Show-Senior in Food Creations, the Best of Show -Junior and Best of Show-Senior in Photography, Best of Show -Junior and Best of Show-Senior in Horticulture and Best of Show -Junior and Best of Show-Senior in Handcrafts will be auctioned at the sale on Saturday night. Best of Show winners of Food Creations will need to make a fresh entry to sell at the auction. Best of Show Photography winners will need to frame their photo prior to the sale. Best of Show Horticulture winners will need to tend their entry with fresh water and clean up any yellowing or decaying leaves/blooms prior to the sale.
➢ Exhibits will not be released before 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026 and must be picked up by 5:00 p.m. that same day. Please do not ask for exceptions. The Harvest Festival will not be responsible for lost or damaged goods. Food Entries not picked up by 5:00 will be discarded.
➢ All entries must be labeled with name of exhibitor, school or organization, and a contact phone number. Please make sure this information is in a location that the judges cannot view.
➢ In no event will the Harvest Festival Board, members, or the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office – Gregg County be responsible for any injury or loss which may occur while in transit or while at the festival, including as a result of sampling entries.
➢ Superintendents reserve the right to subdivide divisions/classes based on this year’s entries and competition.
FOOD CREATIONS-DIVISION A
Entry fee – $15.00 per entry (only two entries per exhibitor allowed in Food Creation)
Chosen Ingredient for 2026 is: APPLE
Each entry must contain the above “chosen ingredient” and it must be listed in the recipe’s ingredients. Each entry must be accompanied by the recipe at check in. Disposable plates, trays, platters, boxes are recommended. Make sure the entry is covered completely to ensure food safety regulations. Make sure all wording that identifies the owner is not on the front of the recipe card.
All entries for this division must NOT require refrigeration. Items which require refrigeration will be disqualified. Be sure also to follow the Harvest Festival & Livestock Show Creative Arts – Food Safety Guidelines on our website.
Recipes must accompany the entries at check-in. Recipes must be printed or typed on any size paper or note card and must be labeled with the entry number, name of exhibitor, school or organization, and contact phone number on the back of the recipe.
Items will be judged on appearance, moisture, texture, consistency, flavor and containing the chosen ingredient. No points will be awarded based on plated presentation.
All baked goods are to be made from scratch. No store bought cake, cookie, or brownie mixes are allowed in recipe. The Food Creations categories include:
- Yeast Bread/Rolls
- Quick Breads
- Cakes
- Cookies
- Candy
- Brownies/Bars
- Miscellaneous (includes Pies, cobblers)
SALSA CONTEST-DIVISION B
Entry Fee – $5.00 per entry (only two entries per exhibitor allowed).
A typed or printed recipe must accompany the entry at check in. Be sure the recipe or the jar does not have wording that identifies the owner in a location that the judges can view. Salsa entries must be canned in traditional, glass mason-style jars with 2-piece lids/band with a properly SEALED lid. Improperly processed salsa will be disqualified. Recipes must include processing times and instructions. The salsa categories include:
- Tomato-based salsa
- Non-tomato based (vegetable) salsa
- Fruit-based salsa
Criteria for judging will be based on taste, aroma, consistency and color.
HORTICULTURE-DIVISION C
Entry Fee – $10.00 per entry (only two entries per exhibitor for Horticulture)
Each entry must be healthy and plants should show evidence of being securely rooted in the soil. Criteria for judging will be based on health of blooms and stems, overall presentation, must be pest and disease free, be good example of the species and fit into the following categories:
- Individual specimen – only one type of plant is featured
- Hanging Baskets – includes ivies, ferns, flowering plants or a combination of plants
- Container – includes dish gardens, fairy gardens, terrariums, repurposed items as containers
Note: No shine enhancing sprays or polishes are allowed.
FLORAL DESIGN – DIVISION D
Entry Fee – $5.00 per entry
Criteria for judging will be based on the overall balance, scale, unity, depth, creativity and focal emphasis of the entry. Fresh flowers and filler only. Artificial and dried floral arrangements must be entered in the Handcrafts division.
HANDCRAFTS-DIVISION E
Entry Fee – $10.00 per entry (only two entries per exhibitor for Handcrafts)
Each entry must be appropriate for decorating and fit into the following categories:
- Hand Stitchery – includes embroidery, needlepoint, cross stich and crewel work
- Knitting and Crochet
- Ceramics/pottery
- Wall hangings/Wreaths
- Floral arrangements – artificial and/or dried
- Wearable Arts/jewelry/clothing
- Miscellaneous
Criteria for judging will be based on material selection, creativity, originality, workmanship, overall presentation.
PHOTOGRAPHY-DIVISION F
Entry Fee – $10.00 per entry (only two entries per exhibitor allowed).
- Photos should be matted or mounted but NOT framed. Photos must be 8″ X 10″ only in dimension. All photos must be mounted/matted using 11” x 14” dimension.
Photography will be judged in two categories:
- Black & White
- Color
All photos must be original photos taken by the exhibitor in the last Harvest Festival year (October 2025-October 2026).
Criteria for judging will be based on originality, technical aspect, composition, artistic merit, overall impact.
PUMPKIN CONTEST-DIVISION G
Entry Fee – $5.00 per entry
Decorate, carve, paint or dress up a pumpkin for this event. Let your imagination run wild!
Judging: – Entries will be judged according to the following: Quality of work, overall theme/presentation, creativity, difficulty
Contest Rules:
- Each entry can be carved, decorated and/or painted by the exhibitor.
- No electrical or battery-operated devices may be used as part of any entry.
- Harvest Festival will not be responsible for lost or damaged goods.
Please note: Entries showing clear signs of rot/decay may be disqualified and discarded immediately.
POSTER CONTEST-DIVISION H
Entry Fee – $1.00 per entry
Clover Kids: K-2nd grade.
Theme: Harvest Festival
Judging will consider neatness, originality, and skill. Poster should not exceed 22X28 in size. Please include your name, grade and county/school on the back of your poster.
