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
Prizes & Awards
Best in Show - $50
Champion– $25
Reserve Champion– $10
First Place – $8
Second Place– $5
Third Place– $3
Premiums will be awarded provided 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.
For all exhibitors winning cumulative premium money exceeding $600.00, a completed W-9 form is required, and a check will be mailed within 60 days.
Important Facts & Dates
Age & Ability Groups
Amateur
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)
Professional (124G)
No age classes. Either employed or selling to qualify as a professional.
Teacher (124H)
No age classes. Employed as a teacher.
July 16 – FINAL DAY FOR ONLINE ENTRIES
Pre-registration required. Enter online by 5 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026, 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 18-19– DELIVER EXHIBITS TO FAIRGROUNDS
Bring exhibits to the Commercial Building #13, Missoula County Fairgrounds, 1101 South Ave. West. Exhibits will be accepted 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 18 and 11 a.m. to 6p.m., Sunday, July 19. After Sunday July 19th, exhibits may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fair office (Building #12). There is no guarantee exhibits dropped off after Sunday July 19 will be judged or exhibited.
AUGUST 8 – PREMIUM PAYOUT
Premiums are available for pickup 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, August 8 at the Fair Office (Bldg. #12) Premiums are also available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday (August 10-12). Any unpaid premiums after 6 p.m., August 12 will be forfeited.
AUGUST 9-10 – EXHIBITS RELEASED
Exhibits will be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday August 9 and Monday August 10. If exhibits are not picked up by Thursday August 13 at 6 p.m., they will be donated.
General Exhibiting Guidelines
All entries must be the artist’s own recent, original work and must not have been previously exhibited at the Western Montana Fair. Works must have been completed within the past three years.
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 25 exhibits in total across all Divisions. Entries are limited to one (1) per Class.
Officials reserve the right to reclassify entries not entered in the correct division or class, or as otherwise needed for competition. Officials have the right to exclude any content from consideration if it includes explicit content that is not family friendly.
All exhibits will receive care and protection in the surroundings, but always are subject to owners’ risk, and the Missoula County Fairgrounds nor Western Montana Fair can’t 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.
A card not exceeding 3”x5” with the following information is required with each entry:
Your name written on the back of the card.
The estimated age 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.
If entering a set of items as entry, please declare this on the card.
CLASSES
Class 1: Advertising, newspapers, signs
Class 2: Clothing, shoes, hats, and accessories
Class 3: Glass, porcelain, and ceramic Items
Class 4: Leather, Metal, and Wooden Items
Class 5: Photos
Class 6: Toys and Games
Class 7: Western Montana Fair Memorabilia
Class 8: Other, not listed above
Division B – Collecting
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
A minimum of 7 items per collection. Overall display size of collection may not exceed 8 square feet.
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.
CLASSES
Class 1: Any Collection -- Historic/Antique
Class 2: Any Collection -- Purchased, please specify
Class 3: Any other collection, please specify
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: Wreaths, Welcome Displays, Wall Art
Class 3: Party Favor, Place Cards, and Invitations
Class 4: Other, please specify.
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, container or on any free-standing display that can be easily moved.
CLASSES
Class 1: Dry and Wet
Class 2: Nymph and Streamers
Class 3: Other, please specify.
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: Assembly, K'Nex - Kit
Class 3: Assembly, K'Nex - Original Design
Class 4: Assembly, Lego - Kit
Class 5: Assembly, Lego - Original Design
Class 6: Assembly, Lincoln Log and Tinker Toy
Class 7: Model, Aircraft , Wheeled vehicle, Tracked vehicle ,or Train– Kit
Class 8: Model, Aircraft , Wheeled vehicle, Tracked vehicle ,or Train – Original Design
Class 9: Model, Ship -- Kit
Class 10: Model, Ship – Original Design
Class 11: Mixed Media Assembly – Original Design
Class 12: Other, not listed above.
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: Family theme
Class 2: Event (birthday, graduation, wedding, etc.)
Class 3: Any other scrapbooking
Division G – Handmade
GUIDELINES & REMINDERS
No kits are allowed.
CLASSES
Class 1: String Art
Class 2: Cricut item
Class 3: Games
Class 4: Mason Jar Reimagined
Class 5: Other, please specify.
Division H: Paper Arts
Class 1: Origami
Class 2: Paper Silhouette/Cutout
Class 3: Paper Quilling
Class 4: Papier Mache
Class 5: Decoupaged item
Class 6: Other paper craft
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)
CLASSES
Class 1: Advertisement, Logo, or Branding (3-5 examples)
Class 2: Catalog (online or print)
Class 3: Product and Packaging
Class 4: Newsletter (printed or digital)
Class 5: Website
Class 6: Other, not listed above.
Division J– Apothecary & Aromatics
Please place in tightly closed packages or containers. Include a 3”x5” card with name on one side, and information regarding the item made including ingredients on the other side.
Class 1: Candle Making
Class 2: Soap Making
Class 3: Lotion Making
Class 4: Body Scrub
Class 5: Other, please specify.