Department: 124-Hobbies & Crafts | Open

Division A – Antique & Vintage Items

Division B – Collecting

Division C – Home & Party Décor

Division D – Fly Tying

Division E – Models & Assemblies

Division F – Scrapbooking

Division G - Handmade

Division H - Paper Arts

Division I – Side Hustle

Division J– Apothecary & Aromatics

Print Hobbies and Crafts

Print Exhibit Entry Form

Prizes & Awards

Champion – $25
Reserve Champion – $10
First Place – $8
Second Place – $5
Third Place – $3

Premiums will be awarded providing there are three (3) or more exhibits in the class. Officials have the authority to move or place exhibits into an appropriate class. Not all classes may merit a placing.

Important Facts & Dates

Age & Ability Groups

Age 11 & under (Dept. 124A)
Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 124B)
Age 18 & older (Dept. 124C)
Persons with Disabilities Age 11 & under (Dept. 124D)
Persons with Disabilities Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 124E)
Persons with Disabilities Age 18 & older (Dept. 124F)

July 25 – FINAL DAY FOR ONLINE ENTRIES

Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2025 using the online entry system. Parents must sign if exhibitor is under 18 years of age. Following registration, print and save your receipt for entry confirmation.

July 26-27 – DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS

Bring exhibits to the Commercial Building #13, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. West. Exhibits will be accepted 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 26 or 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, July 27. After July 27th, exhibits may be dropped of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fair office (Building #12). There is no guarantee exhibits dropped off after July 27th will be judged.

AUGUST 10 – PREMIUM PAYOUT

Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Sunday, August 10 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12). Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. August 11-13. Any unpaid premiums after 5 p.m. August 13 will be forfeited.

AUGUST 11-13 – EXHIBITS RELEASED

Exhibits will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, August 11-13, 2025.

General Exhibiting GUIDELINES

The content submitted must be the original work of the exhibitor.
Officials have the right to exclude any content from consideration if it includes explicit content that is not family friendly.
By submitting your content to this contest, you consent to Missoula County Fairgrounds posting and/or sharing images or videos of your exhibit for promotional purposes.
Entries are limited to one (1) per class unless otherwise specified.
Officials reserve the right to reclassify entries not entered in the correct division or class, or as otherwise needed for competition.
All exhibits will receive care and protection in the surroundings, but at all times are subject to owners’ risk, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds nor Western Montana Fair cannot be held responsible for damage that may occur.
Space/capacity may be reached before the entry deadline and may limit the number of exhibits permitted. In this instance, exhibits will be accepted in the order the entries were received.

Division A – Antiques & Vintage Items

Guidelines & Reminders

All entries must be 30 or more years old.
An exhibitor may enter two (2) entries per class. If entering a set of items as one entry please declare this on the card describing the item.
A card not exceeding 8”x10” with the following information is required with each entry:
- Your name written on the back of the card.
- The estimated date of the object.
- A brief description of the item, any educational information regarding the role the item(s) played in history, and/or the social significance of the item.

CLASSES

Class 1: Advertising

Class 2: Clothing

Class 3: Glass Items

Class 4: Leather Items

Class 5: Metal Items

Class 6: Porcelain Items

Class 7: Ceramic Items

Class 8: Toys & Games

Class 9: Western Montana Fair Memorabilia

Class 10: Photos

Class 11: Wooden Items

Class 12: Other, not listed above

Enter ONLINE →

Division B – Collecting

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

A minimum of 7 and a maximum of 30 items are allowed per collection. An exception to the maximum will be made if the items are less than 4” in size.
Collections must be placed in a display case, jar, or other receptacle that can be easily moved by Fair officials for display (without disruption to the collection). If your collection is unable to meet this requirement, please reach out to the Fair Office.
A card not exceeding 8”x10” with the following information is required with each collection entered:
- A brief description of the collection and any educational information regarding how the collection was started or, if historical, the role the items played in history and/or social significance.
- The year that the collection was started.
- The number of items in the collection.
- If the entire collection is not displayed, state the number of items in the entire collection and provide a photograph of the entire collection.
- Optional: Any fun facts about the collection.

CLASSES

Class 1: Any Collection - Handmade, please specify

Class 2: Any Collection - Historic/Antique

Class 3: Any Collection - Purchased, please specify

Class 4: Any Fair Themed Collection

Class 5: Any other collection, please specify

Enter Online →

Division C – Home & Party Decor

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

All pieces meant to hang must be ready to display on a hook, whether it’s on canvas, wood, matted, mounted, metal, framed, or other medium. Make sure the hanging system you choose will allow for a ¼ inch hook. No tape. Please practice hanging your work at home to make sure that it is secure. Exhibits should not include live plants or foliage (dried foliage will be accepted). Coasters and picture frames handcrafted from wood should be submitted under Department: Industrial Arts, Division: Wood Works, Class: Home Accessories.

CLASSES

Class 1: Centerpiece

Class 2: Welcome Displays

Class 3: Party Favor

Class 4: Invitations

Class 5: Coasters

Class 6: Wreaths

Class 7: Picture Frames

Class 8: Wall Art

Class 9: Nursery Mobiles

Class 10: Holiday or Special Event

Class 11: Other, please specify

Enter Online →

Division D – Fly Tying

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

Entrants must tie and submit three identical flies for each class they enter. Flies must be submitted in a clear bag, jar, or container or on any free-standing display that can be easily moved.

CLASSES

Class 1: Dry

Class 2: Nymph

Class 3: Streamer

Class 4: Wet

Class 5: Other, please specify

Class 6: Catch of the Year, submit a printed photo of you and the fish you caught. Photos should be securely mounted upon mats (not poster board or cardboard), not framed. The exhibitors name, the type of fish, the weight, and length of fish should be written on the back of the mat.

Enter Online →

Division E – Models & Assemblies

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

All assemblies must be submitted on a rigid, non-flexible base such as wood or tile. Cardboard bases are not acceptable.

CLASSES

Class 1: Diorama

Class 2: Miniature Painting

Class 3: Assembly, K'Nex - Kit

Class 4: Assembly, K'Nex - Original Designs Only

Class 5: Assembly, Lego - Kit

Class 6: Assembly, Lego - Original Designs Only

Class 7: Assembly, Lincoln Log

Class 8: Assembly, Tinker Toy

Class 9: Model, Aircraft

Class 10: Model, Figure

Class 11: Model, Ship

Class 12: Model, Tracked Vehicle

Class 13: Model, Train

Class 14: Model, Wheeled Vehicle

Class 15: Mixed Media Assembly

Class 16: Other, not listed above

Enter Online →

Division F – Scrapbooking

Guidelines & Reminders

Scrapbook pages should be single sided, with a clear plastic cover. A minimum of 2 pages are required to enter.

Classes

Class 1: Children theme

Class 2: Event - graduation, wedding, etc.

Class 3: Family theme

Class 4: Holiday theme

Class 5: Vacation theme

Class 6: Any other scrapbooking item

Enter Online →

Division G – Handmade

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

No kits are allowed.

CLASSES

Class 1: String Art

Class 2: Stickers

Class 3: Cricut item

Class 4: Painted Rocks

Class 5: Card games

Class 6: Other games

Class 7: Mason Jar Reimagined

Class 8: Other, please specify

Enter Online →

Division H: Paper Arts

Class 1: Origami

Class 2: Paper Silhouette/Cutout

Class 3: Paper Quilling

Class 4: Papier Mache

Class 5: Calligraphy

Class 6: Decoupaged item

Class 7: Zine or booklet

Class 8: Other paper craft

Enter Online →

Division I – Side Hustle

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

Have an idea for a business, get the word out by showcasing the branding and marketing through competition. Examples should represent a secondary income business and not a primary business. Creating an imaginary business is acceptable. Work must be that of the exhibitor.
Flat print examples should be securely mounted upon mats or foam core (not poster board or cardboard), not framed. Pieces should be ready to hang. Make sure the hanging system you choose will allow for a ¼ inch hook. No tape. Please practice hanging your work at home to make sure that it is secure.
If submitting an online catalog, submit three (3-5) screenshots of product pages, the title of the website, and the website’s URL or a QR code mounted to mat or foam core poster board ready for hanging. (Judges will view catalog online, poster is for display only.)