Manzanita 4-H member and Butte County 4-H Ambassador Julian Connolly received the People's Choice Award and a first-place ribbon for his acorn squash at the 2025 Butte County Fair. Photo courtesy of Lena Connolly

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Butte County Fair is accepting entries for its stills departments as the 2026 fair approaches.

For those living within Butte County, the fair offers entry fees for adult non-livestock still exhibits starting at $3, while youth entries are free. Adult exhibitors can win cash prizes, ribbons and rosettes. Youth competitors can earn ribbons and special awards.

"I love winning ribbons," said Julian Connolly, a Manzanita 4-H member and Butte County 4-H ambassador.

Connolly has entered multiple youth stills categories in past fairs, including dried sunflowers, fresh vegetables, photography and floral arrangements.

The stills department covers nearly everything crafted or grown by hand, with nine adult categories, eight youth categories and one family category.

Categories include baking, preserved foods, textiles, crafts, fine art and horticulture.

Each category includes numerous divisions with entry instructions available under the Competitive Exhibits tab at http://buttecountyfair.org. Requirements, including the number of entries allowed and exhibit specifications, are listed for each division.

Photography includes both amateur and experienced divisions, including black-and-white competition.

Special photography contests include the Butte County Scenes and California State Parks divisions, where competitors submit photographs highlighting California's landscapes and history.

Registration for many stills categories, including clothing, textiles, quilts, arts and crafts, photography and preserved foods, closes Aug. 9.

Registration for adult and youth baking, confectionery, farm, garden and floriculture entries closes Aug. 16.

Youth categories also include entries from 4-H and Grange members who wish to exhibit homegrown produce, homemade foods, arts and crafts.

"I look forward to showing people what I spend my summer growing in the garden and the places I visit," Connolly said. "I love taking photos around Butte County and hope people can get out and see the places I love the most."

In addition to competitive exhibits, the fair is inviting children to participate in its "Golden Days and Country Ways" coloring contest.

The contest is open to children throughout Butte County. The farm-themed coloring page is available at the Butte County Fair office or can be printed from the fair's website.

Entries are due by midnight Aug. 24. The contest includes two age divisions: pre-kindergarten and kindergarten through fifth grade. There is no entry fee, and each child may submit one entry.

For more information or to register, visit http://buttecountyfair.org.