Fowlerville Family Fair announces Extreme Open Class Makeover
By Dawn Bhajan,
Superintendent of Fowlerville Family Fair
Open Class Home Arts
Everyone loves a good makeover story – a dilapidated cabin turned cozy getaway, a rusted-out junkyard find turned car show cruiser, a social wallflower turned prom queen. We humans love to give new life to repurposed things and to see their potential bloom. How exciting, then, to have a tale of total transformation taking place right now in our very own Fowlerville Fair…
If you’ve been following this article series, you already know where we started from… an Open Class program cancelled in 2023 on the heels of a steep, post-2020 decline. Open Class is our Fair’s Livestock and Home Arts competitive classes, open to ALL Michigan residents ages 5+ (no memberships/affiliations required), in which animals, arts, crafts, canning, baked goods, plants, collections—and other entries made or cultivated by you—have a chance to win ribbons and cash awards.
To have this program come roaring back in 2024 with such vigor shows just how much our community values this deeply-rooted, all-inclusive showcase of community talent!
As our Extreme Open Class Makeover continues into 2025, you’ll spot all sorts of exciting transformations, starting with a major overhaul of our Open Class Entry Book, which is NOW AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE at www.fowlervillefamilyfair.com/fair/open-class!
Registration will open June 16th and run through July 1st.
In addition to a complete reorganization and clean-up, look for over 100 brand new competitive Classes in the Entry Book, such as Farm Display (1/64th scale), Sourdough Bread, Illustrated Poem, Handmade Costumery, Sports Memorabilia Collection, Paint-by-Number, Upcycled Paper/Cardboard Art, T-Shirt Quilt, Native Plants Arrangement, Macramé, and Homemade Cider. And that’s just to start!
In one bold stroke, we’ve restructured the Photography Department to feature both Professional and Amateur Classes. This means more chances to win and an opportunity to compete with peers in Open Class’ most popular Department.
Also new this year, our coveted Best of Show ribbons, awarded to entries demonstrating exceptional merit within their Section (group of Classes), now also come with a $10 cash award in addition to the 1st place ribbon premium and a frameable Award Certificate.
Our low- and no-tech friends will be delighted to hear that mail-in paper entry forms are BACK in the 2025 Open Class Entry Book as an alternative to online registration.
And even beyond Entry Book changes, there are improvements to Entry Tags, Exhibit drop-off schedules, registration timelines, the Exhibitor Reception, and much more. You can stay up-to-date on all these exciting changes by joining our “Fowlerville Fair Open Class Home Arts” Facebook group, staying tuned to Fowlerville News & Views, AND now also signing up for our brand new monthly/semi-monthly E-mail Newsletter containing the latest Open Class highlights, critical intel, fun trivia, people-to-know, and helpful resources. Enter your email at http://eepurl.com/iSEgT2 to make sure you don’t miss a single Open Class update.
Best of all, this is a makeover story that YOU get to be a part of – as Exhibitors, Volunteers, Sponsors, and visitors to the Open Class Exhibits. Let us know how you would you like to be involved!
For questions, ideas, and interest in sponsorship or volunteering, please contact me at (810) 923-4582 or dawnbhajan@gmail.com.
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