Eagle County Fair serves up heaping helping of family-friendly competitions

Eagle County's 71st annual Fair & Rodeo is set for July 28 – 31 and CSU Cooperative Extension is offering ways for all community members to join in the fun. Several friendly competitions are scheduled during the Fair portion of the four-day event. For more information on any of the contests listed below, call 970-328-8630 or visit www.eaglecounty.us/fairrodeo.

Cookie Jar Contest
Wednesday, July 28
Registration: 6 - 6:45 p.m.
Judging: 7 p.m.
Calling all bakers in Eagle County: Be sure to enter the Cookie Jar Contest, sponsored by CSU Extension. Get creative and decorate a half gallon container, made of recycled, food-safe materials, and place one dozen delicious homemade cookies inside. Put three additional cookies on a paper plate and cover with a zip-top bag; these are the cookies the judges will taste. The theme this year is “Colorado 4-H 100 Years.”
Bring your cookie jar and homemade cookies to the Eagle River Center at 6 p.m. July 28. Judging begins at 7 p.m. and will be based on creativity of the container and the flavor, texture and appearance of cookies. You may be the lucky winner of a brand new cookie jar.

High Altitude Artisan Bread Bake-Off (New)
Thursday, July 29
Registration: 6 – 6:45 p.m.
Judging: 7 p.m.
Home baked bread; it smells and tastes so good. Enter your quick, yeast or starter bread in the High Altitude Artisan Bread Bake-Off sponsored by Red Canyon Café. Register your bread between 6 and 6:45 p.m. July 29, 2010 at the Eagle River Center. Judging will take place at 7 p.m. Place the bread in a paper bag or on a paper plate and cover with a zip-top bag or foil. Include your recipe; no bread machines allowed. The winning contestant will receive a high-end bread knife donated by Red Canyon Café.

Pretty Baby Contest
Saturday, July 31
Registration: 10:30 a.m.
Contest: 11 a.m.
All babies are cute, and any child up to three years old may enter the Pretty Baby Contest. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. July 31 at the Eagle River Center. The contest will take place at 11 a.m. Parents can dress their little tykes in western attire for a chance to win the “Best Dressed for the Fair” contest. Or, maybe the young child resembles one of the parents enough to win the “Looks Most Like Mom/Pop” category. Other categories include “Best Beach Wear Ensemble,” “Best Hairdo,” “Prettiest Smile in Eagle County,” and “Most Patriotic.” Contestants can enter all six categories, but can only win once. Winners in each category will receive a $50 savings bond (upon maturity).

Salsa Tasting Contest
Saturday, July 31
Registration: 2 – 3 p.m.
Judging: 3:30 p.m.
Enter your homemade fresh salsa in one of two categories: Restaurant/Professional or Amateur. The winner of the Restaurant category will receive a plaque suitable for display, with separate prizes given to the amateur salsa winners. Bring three, one-quart jars to the Eagle River Center from 2 to 3 p.m. on July 31. Include a list of ingredients plus your name, address and phone number with the containers of salsa. All salsas must have been made within 72 hours of entry. Judging will be “people's choice” with votes provided by the visitors to the Eagle County Fair & Rodeo at 3:30 p.m. The salsa with the most votes wins.