Horticulture

Rules and Regulations for Exhibit Hall Classes

1. These rules and regulations apply to Classes 38-46 inclusive, including lettered classes.
2. All general rules and regulations apply to Exhibit Hall Classes.
3. In all articles of manufacture, grain, seeds, and produce, no person shall enter in the same class more than one article of each kind, which must be their own manufacture or growth.
4. All vegetables to be grown in 2025. All fruits, etc. must be correctly named on each exhibit.
5. Exhibit Hall Drop-off and Pick-up Schedule - Exhibit Hall entries will be accepted on Wednesday and Thursday before Labour Day, Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Judging of hall exhibits will commence at 2 p.m. Thursday. The Hall will be open for viewing by visitors Friday, Saturday & Sunday. The Exhibit Hall will close Sunday at 5 p.m. to prepare for the removal of exhibits at 5:15 p.m. One helper only is allowed. Exhibits may not be removed prior to this time. All exhibitors are responsible for picking up their goods in a timely fashion. The Exhibit Hall will close at 6 p.m. Sunday. This schedule is subject to change. All updates will be posted to our website, kinmountfair.net.

Tips for Exhibit Hall Classes

1. To avoid line-ups and delays, please make every effort to pre-register your exhibits online with AssistExpo at kinmountfair.net or with the fair board secretary by the Tuesday before Labour Day. A printable entry form is also available online that can be submitted by email to info@kinmountfair.net or mailed in if electronic submission is not possible.
   Entries can be mailed to: Kinmount Fair, 3174 Cty Rd 121, Burnt River, ON K0M 1C0
2. *NEW* Entry tags will no longer be mailed out. Blank entry tags will be available in advance at the following locations from July 15th, 2025:
   1. Austin Lumber, Kinmount
   2. Select other locaitons - check our website or Facebook page for updates, or contact us.
3. The busiest time for receiving entries is Thursday between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Try to come on Wednesday evening or early Thursday morning to avoid delays and line-ups. Make sure your entry tags have your name on them before putting your exhibits on display!
4. If you have difficulty determining the Class and/or Section numbers to use for your entries, don’t hesitate to consult with the exhibit hall staff. They are there to help make the process easier for everyone!

Guidelines for all Horticulture Division Classes

Director-in-Charge (Classes 38V, 38F, 39): Guy Scott - vegetables@kinmountfair.net

Following are some guidelines suggested for entries in Class 38-40 of the Horticultural Division. These guidelines are taken from the “Ontario Judging Standards,” published by the Ontario Horticultural Association and/or the Garden Clubs of Ontario in co-operation with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, which is available for purchase at a moderate price. This booklet provides you with everything necessary for successful entry in competitions in Classes 38, 39 and 40.

Preparation of Entries

1. List or mark on the following schedule, the plants you have grown that are or will be, at the proper stage for exhibiting, including the “any other” categories.
2. Cut flowers and foliage the evening before the show or in the early morning, selecting specimens of quality.
3. Preparing Materials for Hardening
   1. Remove lower foliage cleanly. Upper foliage must be attached unless otherwise stated.
   2. Specimen blooms must be disbudded. In fact, good exhibitors will often disbud weeks before the show.
   3. Make a fresh slanting cut at the end of the stems, for maximum water intake.
   4. Place in a wide bucket in deep warm water, preferably overnight.
   5. Store in a cool, dark, humid, draft-free place.
4. Conditioning - It is well known that some cut flowers, foliage and woody materials do not readily absorb water, and require further treatment prior to hardening, to prevent wilting during the show.
   1. Flowering branches generally benefit from splitting the cut ends, although some require removal of the thick outer layer as well.
   2. Some cut flowers (e.g. poppies) benefit from burning the stem ends, while others benefit from placing stem ends in boiling water or from chemicals in the water. Details are available in floral books.
5. Preparation of Specimens for Showing
   1. removal of dust, stains, pollen and any other foreign material.
   2. re-cut stem ends before placing in show containers.
6. Some Cautions
   1. a bud showing colour is considered a bloom, which upsets the bloom count
   2. only self-foliage is permitted to be attached, unless otherwise stated in the schedule
   3. wiring, oiling, spraying and artificial colouring is prohibited in the Horticultural Division
7. Placing Entries
   1. Exhibitors are responsible for placing entries in proper classes
   2. Show directors can assist exhibitors to avoid errors in placing entries and ensure they qualify within the limits prescribed in the schedule
8. Guidelines and Terminology
   1. Uniformity – specimens in an entry of a given cultivar should be as uniform as possible in size, form, and colour. When several cultivars are involved, they may vary in size and colour, but should be at a uniform stage of development.
   2. Form – should be characteristic of the cultivar. Thin shallow blooms, or distorted or immature blooms, are not of exhibition quality.
   3. Size and Colour – according to the cultivar
   4. Substance – freshness and turgidity are evidence of good substance and lasting quality
   5. Stem and Foliage – the stem should be of good proportion, sufficiently strong and stiff to support the bloom, but not coarse. Only attached self-foliage is permitted, unless otherwise stated.
   6. Condition and Grooming – entries should be at the proper stage of maturity, turgid and free of mechanical injury, insects, disease, and spray blemishes. Flowers and foliage should display evidence of good culture and grooming.

All exhibits must be grown by exhibitor