California Ag Network

Tag: California State Fair

  • CA State Fair Announces 2022 Cheese Competition Awards

    After a two year hiatus, the California State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition was held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Cal Expo. Out of 100 cheese entries from producers throughout the state, the best two cheeses in California have been named.

    Point Reyes Farmstead “Bay Blue”

    The Best of Show Cheese – Cow’s Milk has been awarded to Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company. Inspired by the sheer natural beauty of our coastal climate and locale, Point Reyes Farmstead Bay Blue took the honors. Bay Blue is a rustic-style blue cheese with a natural rind. It is known for its mellow flavor and sweet, salted caramel finish. Bay Blue is made from pasteurized, rBST-free cow’s milk with traditional rennet. It is gluten-free and aged for 90 days. This is their fifth time winning Best of Show for Cow’s Milk.

    Central Coast Creamery “Goat Gouda”

    The Best of Show Cheese – Other Milk Type goes to Central Coast Creamery for their Goat Gouda. This is the producer’s first time winning Best of Show! The Goat Gouda is made from 100% whole goat milk and goat cream, aged on pine wood in a ripening room for at least 5 months. This semi-soft cheese is ivory colored with a smooth mouth feel and the slightly grainy texture of an aged cheese. Goat Gouda has a caramel scent with a slightly nutty and sweet flavor that makes this cheese an ideal choice for your cheese tray, picnic basket, or when pairing with your favorite wine or beer.

    The 16 California cheese companies who entered the competition range from small artisan producers to large-scale cheese production companies. Cheese judges are selected from respected cheese merchants, writers, promoters, and educators. The cheeses are entered by Division and Class and evaluated for appearance, aroma, texture, and taste.

    This year, a panel of 9 official judges tasted and evaluated all 100 California cheeses at Cal Expo on May 11, 2022. You can find a complete list of the award-winning cheeses at CalExpoStateFair.com/California-Commercial-Cheese.

    2022 CA State Fair Commercial Cheese Competition Judges with Commercial Cheese Competition Coordinator, Marilyn Langhorst

    About the California State Fair

    The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future.

  • The CA State Fair Competitions are for Everyone! Which competition is right for you?

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 20, 2018) – The CA State Fair, July 13th-29th is looking for Golden State residents with hidden talents! Whether a budding artist or a seasoned baker, there is a category designed for any hobbyist or enthusiasts in the California State Fair Competitions.

    The competitions which are open are:

    • Photography
    • Student Showcase
    • Fine Arts
    • Crafts
    • Canning and Baking
    • Youth Canning and Baking

    Up next are the animal and livestock competitions. These competitions are always a highlight at the CA State Fair. Hundreds of exhibitors are given the opportunity to showcase their hard work and what they have learned through their livestock and animal projects. The competitionsthat will be opening in April include:

    • Junior Livestock
    • Open Livestock
    • Fur and Feathers
    • The County Fair Best of Show

    In the professional competition categories, Commercial Cheese and Commercial Craft Beer will be open on April 2. The guideslines for the competitions are posted here.

    For the Commercial Cheese competition, awards will be given to the top finishers in each division and class, such as: Soft Cheese, Hard Cheese and California Original. The California State Fair will award Best of California and Best of Show for cow milk and other milk types which include goat and sheep. The Best of Show and category winners are featured in the Best of California Magazine and showcased at the CA State Fair.

    For the Commercial Craft Beer, the third largest in the country, the CA State Fair awards top honors for categories in Lager, Wheat, Belgium Ale, and Stouts among others. The Best of Show and Brewery of the year are recognized at the annual, high profile press event on the steps of the State Capitol. In addition, selected commercial beer winners are invited to pour at the exclusive Best of California Tasting event at Cal Expo on June 21st.

    The CA State Fair Competitions showcase the best of the best! All California residents are encouraged to enter. Don’t miss a moment at the 2018 CA State Fair, July 13th-29th!

  • Farm Tours Teach Children About Fresh Food at the California State Fair Farm!

    Sacramento, Calif., (March 14, 2018) – The California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm does more than grow food; it grows knowledge and enriches the lives of area youth and even peaks the students’ interest to pursue careers in California’s number one industry: Agriculture. School tours at The Farm teach K-6th graders about California fresh produce at the 3.5 acre working farm. Schools from all over the region are welcome to tour the farm.

    K-6 grade students get a unique, hands-on experience in a living classroom that shows them first-hand where their food comes from. Students will see actual crops including a functioning greenhouse. They will participate in five learning stations: Grow it- explore seeds; See it- see what the seeds turn into; Save it- the newest methods for growing plants; Plant it-  plant seeds; and Taste it-  taste the foods grown on The Farm.

    The CA State Fair Farm grows over 90 varieties of fruits and vegetables all year long from cotton, kiwi, squash, eggplant, chili peppers, corn and melons to pumpkins. Nearly 4,000 students experience what it takes to plant, maintain and manage a farm during Spring/Fall Farm Tours. The California State Fair Farm is a working farm that produces tons of produce which is donated to the Sacramento Food Bank. In 2017, more than 16,000 pounds of produce was donated.

    The California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm Tours are offered for six weeks in the spring and fall. The spring farm tours at Cal Expo are Monday thru Thursday starting April 9th and wrap up May 17th. The fall tours will begin on September 10th and will conclude October 18th. Schools are encouraged to book tours for both spring and fall now before all of the slots are taken.

    There is a nominal fee of $7 per student for the tour. Included in the fee is a tour through the Forest Center, an area that features 40 native species of trees. Experts from the Forest Foundation allow the children to get close to nature while learning about the benefits of a healthy sustainable forest. Also during the farm tour, students can milk “Cali”, a mechanical cow donated by the California Milk Advisory Board!

    Reservations are going on now at http://www.castatefair.org/farmtours/.

    For more information about The California State Fair Kaiser Permanente Farm School Tours and to schedule an interview with a classroom tour, contact:
    Media Director, Darla Givens, 916-263-3108.

  • Friends of the California State Fair Awarding Over $46,000 In Scholarship Funds

    Sacramento, Calif., (November 22, 2017) – The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2018 – 2019 academic year.

    The program offers 14 categories of scholarships ranging from $1,000 – $2,500 each with varying eligibility requirements. Categories include: agriculture, art, academic excellence, business, culinary/hospitality/event management, education, international relations, trade school, viticulture and enology.

    Applicants may apply for one scholarship category of their choice per year and will be evaluated based on academics, community service, quality of essay and recommendation. Top scholarship winners in select categories may be invited to compete for the $5,000 Ironstone Concours Foundation Scholarship. Scholarships are not renewable; however, students may reapply each year as long as they continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

    The Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program is a collaboration between the Friends of the California State Fair, the California Exposition & State Fair, the California State Fair Agricultural Advisory Council, the Ironstone Concours Foundation, Blue Diamond Growers and Western Fairs Association. International Scholarship and Tuition Services, Inc. (ISTS), an independent scholarship management company, hosts the online application process and disburses awards for the program.

    The deadline to apply is March 2, 2018. Learn more at CAStateFair.org/scholarship. For questions about the Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program, please email scholarship@calexpo.com.