The Wisconsin State Fair provides the opportunity for individuals of all backgrounds to participate in competitive exhibits at the fair. These exhibits can range from photography to culinary arts, floral arrangements, or even homemade beer and wine.
Jill Albanese is the Executive Director of Competitive Exhibits at the State Fair. She says that there is a strong interest in competing and that shows in the number of exhibits entered every year.
One of the categories that had an increase in exhibits was photography. “We had 3,116 photo entries this year which is over 700 than what we had the year before,” Albanese shared. She believes that the increase is due to most people having cellphones with high quality cameras, making photography a relatively easy hobby to enjoy.
The individuals who compete are very diverse in age. This year, Albanese shared there was an 11 year old who competed with a culinary project for the first time. Others have been competing for decades and have no plans on slowing down.
It is apparent to Albanese that the State Fair becomes a family affair. “We have exhibitors who have been here 40 years and they love it and now they bring their daughter and then their daughter brings their daughter,” Albanese shared.
Leave a Reply