Department: 125-Industrial Arts | Open

Division A – Jewelry Making

Division B – Leatherwork

Division C – Metal Works

Division D – Glassworks

Division E – Tole Painting

Division F – Wood Works

Division G - Gems & Minerals

Prizes & Awards

  • Champion – $25

  • Reserve Champion – $10

  • First Place – $8

  • Second Place – $5

  • Third Place – $3

  • Hellgate Mineral Society Choice Award – This award will be awarded to a single entry in the ‘Gems & Minerals’ division.  

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. 125A)

  • Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 125B)

  • Age 18 & older (Dept. 125C)

  • Persons with Disabilities Age 11 & under (Dept. 125D)

  • Persons with Disabilities Age 12 to 17 (Dept. 125E)

  • Persons with Disabilities Age 18 & older (Dept. 125F)

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 – Jewelry Making

GUIDELINES & REMINDERS

No kits, original designs only. A 3-piece set is any three items. For example, a necklace and two earrings would be considered a 3-piece set.

CLASSES

Class 1: Bracelet, beaded

Class 2: Bracelet, metalsmithing

Class 3: Bracelet, woven

Class 4: Earrings, soldered

Class 5: Earrings, beaded

Class 6: Earrings, wire

Class 7: Necklace, any method

Class 8: Pins and Brooches

Class 9: Ring, wire

Class 10: Ring, bezel set or soldered

Class 11: Pendant, any method

Class 12: 3-piece Jewelry Set

Class 13: Other, not listed above

Division B – Leatherwork

CLASSES

Class 1: Belt

Class 2: Billfold or wallet

Class 3: Book Cover

Class 4: Purse, bag or tote

Class 5: Tary

Class 6: Knife sheath

Class 7: Keychain

Class 8: Pet collar or leash

Class 9: Any other item

Division C – Metal Works

CLASSES

Class 1: Forged Item

Class 2: Plasma Cut Item - original design, include original sketch

Class 3: Welded Item

Class 4: Soldered Item

Class 5: Wind Chime

Class 6: Furniture

Class 7: Home Accessory

Class 8: Outdoor Item

Class 9: Restoration Project

Class 10: Scrap Metal Project

Class 11: Tool

Class 12: Tin Punch Item

Class 13: Other, not listed above

Division D – Glass Works

Classes

Class 1: Stained Glass, foil

Class 2, Stain Glass, lead

Class 3: Glass etching

Class 4: Glass fusing

Class 5: Glass casting

Class 6: Glass blowing

Class 7: Neon signs

Class 8: Other, not listed above

Division E – Tole Painting

Classes

Class 1: Painting on Wood Object

Class 2: Painting on Metal Object

Class 3: Painting on Glass Object

Class 4: Painting on any other object

Division F – Wood Works

Classes

Class 1: Hand Carved Item

Class 2: Chainsaw Carved Item

Class 3: Lathe Made Item

Class 4: Scroll Sawed Item

Class 5: Furniture

Class 6: Home Accessory

Class 7: Outdoor Item

Class 8: Barn Quilt

Class 9: Refinished / Restored

Class 10: Walking Stick / Cane

Class 11: Wood Burning

Class 12: Other, not listed above

Division I – Gems & Minerals

Prizes

Hellgate Mineral Society Choice Award – This award will be awarded to a single entry in the ‘Gems & Minerals’ division.  

Classes

Class 1: Lapidary, tumbling 

Class 2: Lapidary, cabbing 

Class 3: Lapidary, faceting 

Class 4: Lapidary, carving 

Class 5: Lapidary, jewelry 

Class 6: Any other stone works of art 

Class 7: Collecting, rocks (minimum 12 rocks)

Class 8: Collecting, minerals (minimum 12 minerals)

Class 9: Collecting, fossils (minimum 12 fossils)

Class 10: Any other collection (minimum 12 items)

Missoula Fairgroundsnon-livestock, Due07-29