Frequently Asked Questions

Keep coming back - these will be updated as more questions arise.

My fair is too close to (or after) the contest deadline. How do I participate? 

The IAFE encourages you to enter the materials from this year's fair into next year's contest. That gives you a much longer period of time to perfect your entries before submitting!

Which entries are judging in Springfield, Missouri (thus, require a physical copy mailed to the Springfield office)?

None! As of 2021, all entries are submitted and judged entirely online. No physical copies requested.  

Who judges the contest entries?

Judging takes place online by a panel of volunteers from both within and outside of the fair industry. Dates for the 2024 judging: 

October 3-10, 2025.

Each of the judging groups will reconvene to examine any conflicts and share ideas on these dates: October 6,8, and 10, at these times: 

10am: Sponsorship

11am: Non-Fair Facility Usage

12pm:  Communications/Marketing

1pm:  Agriculture 

2pm: Commercial Exhibits & Concessions

3pm: Competitive Exhibits

Interested in becoming a judge? Contact Anna Wilson at the IAFE Office. 

What are some of the most common errors?

- submitting too many pages of supporting documentation. Each category will specify the maximum number of pages allowed. 

- Not including a required caption

- TV Commercial/ Radio ad is too long in length

How do I update my division? 

Log into your account on the IAFE Contest website, then click "My Account" - "Manage My Profile". From there you will indicate what division your fair will submit under. The division on the forms are for judges eyes only, not for classification of the entries.