Director: Stena Meadows
stena.meadows@tn.gov
Ag Mechanics Show: John Fugate, Michael Whitehead, David Johnson
Corn Show: Daren Helton, Vegetable/Egg & Honey Show, Buddy Crass, Jennifer Noe, David Tripucka
Potato Show: Jennifer Overbay, Eric Reynolds
Ornamental Horticulture: Mike Howerton, Taylor Case, Patti Keep
Photography Show: Val Eaton, Taylor Case
Schedule Information*
Location: Jacob Building (Second Level)
Drop-off: Thursday, September 10 - 9:00am-7:30pm or Friday, September 11 - 9:00am-5:00pm or Saturday, September 12 - 7:00am-10:00am (Must use Hill Top Gate)
Judging: Saturday, September 12 - 11:00am
Pick-up: Sunday, September 20 - 8:00pm-10:00pm or Monday, September 21 - 10:00am-6:00pm
*Class 19: See specific class for more info
The members of the Tennessee Association of the FFA constitute a state association in the national organization of Future Farmers of America. This organization is made up of students enrolled in Agricultural Education in the public high schools. Students studying Agricultural Education are enrolled in supervised work experiences designed to increase in scope from year to year. FFA chapters are located in every state in the Union. The annual FFA Convention is to be held in Indianapolis, IN.
Rules
1. Competition in this department is open to any FFA member in the State, provided he/she is a bona fide student of Agricultural Education except Special Classes 14-17 (Only open to East Tennessee FFA Chapters).
2. No entry fee will be charged.
3. All entries must be registered online at tnvalleyfair.org in order to receive Tennessee Valley Fair admission. NO EXCEPTIONS!
4. Enter everything you think you may enter. We understand you may not bring what was originally registered. Registering online will simplify your check in process when you arrive.
5. All exhibits should be in place before Saturday, September 12 by 10:00am for judging to begin at 11:00am.
6. An individual may enter only one exhibit in any lot.
7. Teachers should see that each exhibit sent in has a label attached giving the name and address of the exhibitor, name of the variety, or the class and lot under which it is desired to make entry.
8. Teachers of Agricultural Education must certify that exhibits are produced in students’ own supervised occupational experience program or by students enrolled in Agricultural Education for the first time and that crop exhibits are of current year’s growth except burley leaf tobacco. Class 6 may be either current or previous year’s crop.
9. In all production exhibits, the Tennessee Valley Fair reserves the right to check any entry in the field at maturity, if conditions seem to warrant same, and hold premium money until such production is verified.
10. All exhibits including ribbons may be removed during the above dates and times. Any exhibits removed prior to the dates and times will forfeit all premiums. Exhibits not removed by Monday, September 21 at 6:00pm will be disposed.
11. All youth are also eligible to compete in the Open Horticulture categories, Department 300.
** PREMIUM CHECKS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20 OR MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21. PLEASE CHECK WITH DEPARTMENT HEAD FOR EXACT LOCATION OF PICK-UP. ANY CHECKS NOT PICKED UP WILL BE MAILED. DUE TO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH MAILING, IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR CHECK WITHIN 6 WEEKS AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE FAIR, PLEASE CONTACT THE FAIR OFFICE.
FFA Corn Show
Class 1 - Field Corn Production Exhibit
Score Card
Soundness of grain............................................10 points
Yield per acre.....................................................90 points
Lot 1
1. Corn must be a dent hybrid or open-pollinated variety and grown during the current season by the exhibitor.
2. Entries in this class will be judged on yield per acre and on an exhibit consisting of ten (10) ears of corn selected from the plot used in getting a sample. This plot is charted below.
3. Corn to be harvested consists of three (3) rows each 15 feet long and five rows apart. The dimensions of the rectangular plot will be 5 feet in length of row, and eleven (11) rows in width. A total of 45 feet of row will be harvested.
4. The corn sample should be shucked and must be selected in accordance with the chart above. Count the total number of plants harvested and record this number. Weigh the sample and record the weight. Spring, digital, and platform scales are all acceptable devices for determining the sample weight. From this sample, collect two (2) ten-ear sub-samples.
5. Bring these two 10-ear sub-samples to the Jacob Building. Do not bring the entire harvested sample.
6. One 10-ear sub-sample will be used by the Fair to determine the moisture content of the grain at harvest and will then be removed from the building by the exhibitor..
7. The other 10 ears will be the exhibit to be displayed with the yield results. Exhibit must include the recorded sample weight, harvested plant count, row width, and brand/hybrid or variety name.
8. Uniform samples with a minimum of insect damage and rots are desired. Ears should be intact including unfilled tips. (These 10 ears may also be entered in Class 2, Lot 1.)
Premiums for Class 1
1st - $15.00 2nd - $12.50 3rd-5th - $10.00 6th-8th - $7.50 9th-10th - $6.00
Sample Weight Verification
Name of
Brand/Hybrid No.
_______________
Row Width
_______________
No. of Plants
Harvested
_______________
No, of Plants per Acre*
_______________
Weight of Sample
_______________
* Plants per acre = (11616/row width in inches) x Number of plants harvested from 45’ of row.
Example: (11616/36”) x 60 plants = 19360 ppa
The UT Agricultural Experiment Station will be determine the grain moisture and yield per acre based on dry shelled corn at 15.5 percent moisture content
I certify that the above information is correct and has been taken in accordance with the rules.
____________________
Vocational Teacher
Bushels Per Acre: _____________________________________
(to be filled in by UT Experiment Station Official)
Department: __________________________________________
County: ______________________________________________
Name & Address of Grower: ____________________________
______________________________________________________
Brand/Hybrid/Variety: __________________________________
Planting Population/Acre: _______________________________
(to be filled in by UT Experiment Station Official)
Moisture at Harvest:____________________________________
(to be filled in by UT Experiment Station Official)
Width of Rows: _______________________________________
Sample Weight: _______________________________________
Number of Plants Harvested: ___________________________
I certify that the above information is correct and has been taken in accordance with the rules.
_________________________________________________
Vocational Teacher
Class 2 - Field Corn Ten Ear Exhibit
Premiums for Class 2
1st - $5.00 2nd - $4.50 3rd - $4.00 4th - $3.50 5th - $3.00 6th - $2.50 7th-12th - $2.00
Lot 01 - Individual
1. Corn must be a dent hybrid or open-pollinated variety and grown during the current season by the exhibitor.
2. Each member may enter one exhibit of a ten-ear sample of corn. No sweet corn or popcorn. Ears should be shucked and fully intact including unfilled tips. Uniform samples with dry, sound grain and a minimum of insect damage and rots are desired.
FFA Potato Show
Scoring: Entries in this class will be judged on the basis of 75 percent for production, and 25 percent for quality, and on an exhibit consisting of twelve (12) selected potatoes.
Yield Verification: Yields to be verified before or after harvest by authorized agent of the Fair Association, designated in cooperation with the Agricultural Extension Service and Department of Agricultural Education. Yield scores will be provided to Department Superintendent at time of entry.
Potato Yield Determination Before Harvest: All row-crop yields can be directly determined without computation by weighing the yield from a specified row length and moving decimal point left or right. In the case of potatoes in 3ft rows, the pounds produced on 24 ft. of row give acre yield in 60 pound bushels by moving the decimal point one space to the right.
Example: 26.5 pounds equals 265 bushels per acre. Yield checking should be done after vines have died and before crabgrass takes over. Three to five samplings should be taken per acre, averaged together. Samplings should properly represent field variableness. The less variable the vine growth, the fewer the yield samplings needed. Indicate weight of each sample.
Row length harvested is related to row spacing as follows:
32”=27’6”, 36”=24’0”, 38”=22’8”, 42”=20’7”
Most useful equipment for field checking is a long-handled, six-tine fork, a basket, and a spring scale.
Class 3 - Irish Potato Production Exhibit
Premiums for Class 3
1st - $15.00 2nd - $12.50 3rd-5th - $10.00 6th-8th - $7.50 9th-10th - $6.00
Lot
01 - Early Varieties - Irish Cobbler, Bliss Triumph, La Soda
02 - Late Varieties-Kennebec, Sequoia, Green Mountain, Boone, Pon
Class 4 - Exhibit of Irish Potatoes
Entry to consist of 12 selected potatoes, top show quality.
Lot 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
01 - Irish Cobbler_______$5.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.50 $3.00
02 - Kennebec________ $7.00 $6.00 $5.00 $4.50 $4.00
03 - Any other variety ___$5.00 $4.50 $4.00 $3.50 $3.00
(Must be named)
Record Production
Yield per acre:________________________________________
Name:________________________________________________
Address:______________________________________________
County:_______________________________________________
Var. Acres:_____________________________________________
Spacing:______________________________________________
Fertilizer: Formula:_____________________________________
Rate:_________________________________________________
Insect and Disease Control:_____________________________
I certify that the information above is correct and has been taken in accordance with the rules.
Signed________________________________________________
Vocational Teacher
Class 5 - Hay
1. No entry fee will be charged.
2. Neat handling will be considered in all exhibits.
3. Exhibits must be from the FFA student's farming operation.
An entry of hay will consist of 1/4 bale.
Premiums for Class 5
1st - $10.00 2nd - $9.00 3rd - $8.00 4th - $7.00 5th - $6.00
Lot
01 - Mixed Grass Hay
02 - Alfalfa
03 - Red Clover
04 - Grass & Clover mixed
05 - Grass & Alfalfa mixed
06 - Timothy
07 - Orchard Grass
08 - Oats
09 - Wheat
Class 6 - Speciality Crops - Tobacco, Hemp, Cotton, Soy Beans
Premiums for Class 6
1st - $10.00 2nd - $9.00 3rd - $8.00 4th - $7.00 5th - $6.00
Lot
01 - Cured
02 - Uncured
Class 7 - FFA Egg Show
Premiums for Class 7
1st - $5.00 2nd - $4.00 3rd - $3.00 4th - $2.50 5th - $2.00
An entry will consist of 1 dozen eggs in a carton. Store bought eggs are unacceptable and will be disqualified. Exhibits must be from the FFA student's farming operation.
Lot
01 - White Eggs
02 - Brown Eggs
03 - Multi-color Eggs (Blue, Green, etc)
Class 8 - FFA Vegetable Show
Premiums for Class 8
1st - $5.00 2nd - $4.00 3rd - $3.00 4th - $2.50 5th - $2.00
Lot
01 - Plate of Pole Beans
02 - Plate of Snap Beans
03 - Five (5) Bell Peppers (Green)
04 - Five (5) Bell Peppers (Other Color)
05 - Ten (10) Cayenne Peppers (Green)
06 - Ten (10) Cayenne Peppers (Red)
07 - Ten (10) Banana Peppers (Yellow)
08 - Ten (10) Banana Peppers (Other Color)
09 - Ten (10) Jalapeno Peppers
10 - Ten (10) Habanero Peppers
11 - Ten (10) Other Peppers
12 - Five (5) Large Red Tomatoes
13 - Five (5) Large Yellow Tomatoes
14 - Five (5) Red or Yellow Tomatoes (Plum Type)
15 - Twelve (12) Small Red Tomatoes
16 - Twelve (12) Small Yellow Tomatoes
17 - Plate (12 pods) Table-Size Okra (2” - 3 1/2”)
18 - Five (5) Slicing Cucumbers
19 - Five (5) Pickling Cucumbers
20 - Six (6) Sweet Potatoes
21 - Six (6) Yellow Onions
22 - Six (6) Onions (Other Color)
23 - Three (3) Zucchini Summer Squash
24 - Three (3) Yellow Summer Squash
25 - Three (3) Round Summer Squash
26 - Acorn Squash (2)
27 - Butternut Squash (2)
28 - Cushaw type Winter Squash
29 - Other type Winter Squash
30 - Small Sugar or Pie Pumpkin (max 10 lbs)
31 - Large Kentucky Field Pumpkin
32 - Large Orange Connecticut Pumpkin
33 - Round Watermelon
34 - Long Watermelon
Class 9 - FFA Honey Show
Premiums for Class 9
1st - $5.00 2nd - $4.00 3rd - $3.00 4th - $2.50 5th - $2.00
Honey must be exhibited in pint or quart glass jars (A standard 1 pound honey jar is recommended)
Lot
01 - Chunk Honey - Light Amber
02 - Extracted Honey - Light Amber
03 - Chunk Honey - Dark Amber
04 - Extracted Honey - Dark Amber
Class 10 - FFA Agricultural Mechanics Show
Premiums for Class 10, Lots 1 - 22
1st - $10.00 2nd - $8.00 3rd - $6.00
Teachers must certify that projects entered for competition have been made since September 1, 2026 in the high school shop or home shop by students regularly enrolled in Agricultural Education, and that the project has not been previously exhibited in the Tennessee Valley Fair. Each project must by entered by the student by whom it is made. Exhibits will be judged on workmanship, utility and materials used. Articles are to be placed in designated lots. Decision of judges will be final.
Lot
01 - Cutting Board
02 - Nail Box
03 - Soil Auger
04 - Tobacco Tomahawk
05 - Fire Rake made from Mower Sections
06 - Wood Float
07 - Tree Planting Dibble
08 - Best job of arc welding steel
09 - Best job of gas welding steel
10 - Best job of patch or joint soldering
11 - Best job of plug soldering
12 - Best job of mig welding
13 - Best job of brazing
14 - Small Wood Project - Various Crafts
15 - Small Wood Project - Agricultural Related
16 - Tractor Hitch
17 - Jig for Drilling Round Metal
18 - Carpenter's Tool Box, open top
19 - Completed 3-way light circuit with male plug for testing, mounted on appropriate display (exhibit not to exceed 1' x 2')
20 - Carpenter's Tool Box, to lock
21 - Post Driver for Metal Post
22 - Machinery Leveling Jack
Premiums for Class 10, Lots 23 - 26
1st - $15.00 2nd - $12.00 3rd - $10.00
Lot
23 - Lawn Furniture
24 - Metal Saw Horse
25 - Welding Stools
26 - Farm Gate (All - Metal, Non-Metal)
Large Projects for Farm Use
The following lots (27-42) are intended to be large projects for farm use and must be entered by the individual who made the project or by the chapter, if the project was a cooperative endeavor of FFA members. All items above will not be
eligible in the following lots. On large projects with more than one component, limit to two entries.
Premiums for Class 10, Lots 27 - 29
1st - $12.00 2nd - $10.00 3rd - $8.00
Lot
27 - Livestock Feeders
28 - Small Metal Project For Farm Use.
(Any small metal project not included in other lots.) Projects in this lot must be elaborate enough to justify prize money. Such projects as draw-bar pins will not qualify
29 - Small Metal Welded Craft
Premiums for Lots 30 - 33
1st - $15.00 2nd - $12.00 3rd - $10.00
Lot
30 - Two or Three-Point Tractor Carryall
31 - Two or Three-Point Tractor Boom
32 - Large Labor Saving Device for Farm Use
33 - Three Point Hitch Gooseneck Mover
Premiums for Class 10, Lots 34 - 36
1st - $25.00 2nd - $20.00 3rd - $18.00 4th - $15.00
Lot
34 - Modified Equipment
35 - Large Wood Project for Farm Use
(i.e. wagon bed, trailer bed, truck rack, etc)
36 - Large Metal Project for Farm Use
(i.e. cattle racks, metal wagon beds, presses, etc)
Premiums for Class 10, Lots 37 - 40
1st - $40.00 2nd - $30.00 3rd - $25.00 4th - $20.00
Lot
37 - Round Bale Carrier - Any Type
38 - Tillage Equipment
39 - Log Splitter
40 - Two-Wheel Trailer or Four Wheel Wagon
Premiums for Class 10, Lots 41 - 42
1st - $50.00 2nd - $40.00 3rd - $35.00 4th - $30.00
Lot
41 - Farm Trailer - Any type
42 - Picnic Table - Any type
Class 11 - FFA Ornamental Horticulture
Premiums for Class 11, Lot 1
1st - $50.00 2nd - $40.00 3rd - $30.00 4th - $20.00 5th - $10.00
Lot
01 - Ornamental Horticulture Display
This lot is open to chapter competition only. This display will be designed and arranged in a 30” x 96” space. Judging will be based on educational value, originality, design, quality or materials, etc.
Premiums for Class 11, Lots 2-34
1st - $10.00 2nd - $8.00 3rd - $6.00
Lot
02 - Aloe Vera Plant
03 - Baby Tear Jew Plant
04 - Begonia, any variety
05 - Boston Fern
06 - Cactus
07 - Cactus, Christmas
08 - Chrysanthemum, any potted
09 - Ficus Plant
10 - Geranium, any potted
11 - Impatiens, any potted
12 - Ivy, any potted
13 - Jade Plant
14 - Mother-in-Law Plant
15 - Peace Lily
16 - Perennial, any potted
17 - Pothos Plant
18 - Rubber Plant
19 - Spider Plant
20 - Wandering Jew Plant
21 - Container Grown Nursery Stock (1)
22 - Container Grown Ground Cover (1)
23 - Hanging Basket, Foliage
24 - Hanging Basket, Flowering
25 - Hanging Basket, Fern or Fern-like
26 - Houseplant, Large, 36" & over
27 - Houseplant, Small, under 36"
28 - Flowering Annual, any
29 - Blooming Potted Plant, any other
30 - Non-blooming Potted Plant, any
31 - Container with more than 1 Variety
32 - Wildflower Arrangement
33 - Live Flower Arrangement
34 - Silk Flower Arrangement
Class 12 - Landscape Design
Exhibits must be the student's own work
Premiums for Class 12, Lots 1-10
1st - $10.00 2nd - $8.00 3rd - $6.00
Lot
01 - Landscape Design - Plan View 8 1/2" x 11" or smaller
02 - Landscape Design - Plan View larger than 8 1/2" x 11"
03 - Landscape Design - Elevation View 8½"x11" or smaller
04 - Landscape Design - Elevation View larger than 8½"x11"
05 - Hand drawn Landscape Design - any
06 - Computer Aided Landscape Design - Plan View 8½"x11" or smaller
07 - Computer Aided Landscape Design - Plan View larger than 8½" x 11"
08 - Computer Aided Landscape Design - Elevation View
8½" x 11" or smaller
09 - Computer Aided Landscape Design - Elevation View larger than 8½" x 11"
10 - Scaled Model - Landscape Design
Class 13 - Agricultural Photography
Premiums for Class 13
1st - $7.00 2nd - $5.00 3rd - $3.00
Lots
01 - Color - Animal
02 - Color - People
03 - Color - Farm Landscape
04 - Color - Any Other
05 - Black & White - Animal
06 - Black & White - People
07 - Black & White - Farm Landscape
08 - Black & White - Any Other
Class 14 - Agricultural Issues Poster
Premiums for Class 14
1st - $30.00 2nd - $20.00 3rd - $10.00
1. Ag Issues Posters should be done on a tri-fold Science Fair/Presentation board measuring no more than 36" high x 48" wide that will stand on its own. Poster must be mounted.
Why is the issue important now? What is the nature of the issue? Who is involved in the issue? How is the is sue defined? What is the historical background of the
issue? What caused the issue? What are the risks? What are the benefits?
2. For more information visit the Ag Issues Forum CDE on tnffa.org or ffa.org.
Class 15 - Chapter Display
Premiums for Class 15
1st - $60.00 2nd - $50.00 3rd - $40.00
YOU MUST BE PRE-REGISTERED TO PARTICIPATE! Participants will be notified of space allowed via email by August 28.
Must incorporate the 2026 Tennessee Valley Fair theme:
"The Great American Swine-A-Bration"
a. Promotion of a successful or approved agricultural practice
b. Promotion of a successful chapter leadership activity
c. Promotion of local, state, or national ag program or activity
Grading and placing will be based on the following:
a. Attractiveness...............................20pts
b. Display Techniques.......................20pts
c. Originality......................................15pts
d. Appropriateness of Topic..............15pts
e. Overall Effectiveness....................30pts
Lot
01 - Chapter Display
Class 16 - FFA Class Specials
Premiums for Class 16
1st - $25.00 2nd - $15.00 3rd - $12.00
Available premiums will be awarded to the chapter that has the largest number of points in each of the classes listed below:
Lot
01 - Classes 1 & 2 - FFA Corn Show
02 - Classes 3 & 4 - FFA Potato Show
03 - Class 8 - FFA Vegetable Show
04 - Class 10 - FFA Farm Mechanics Show
05 - Class 11 - FFA Ornamental Horticulture Show
06 - Classes 12,13,14,15 - Design, Photography, Posters, Displays
In counting points, each first prize shall count as many points as there are prizes offered in that lot, except that there will be a maximum of 10 points. A second prize shall count one point less than the first prize and so on down to the last prize, which count one point.
Class 17 - FFA Chapter Special
Premiums for Class 17
1st - $40.00 2nd - $30.00 3rd - $20.00 4th-8th - $20.00
Lot
01 - The FFA Chapter winning the largest number of points in Classes 1 to 15 inclusive. Points to be counted as in Class 16.
Class 18 - FFA Chapter Exhibit Special
Premiums for Class 18
1st - $40.00 2nd - $30.00 3rd - $20.00 4th-8th - $10.00
Lot
01 - Premiums will be awarded to the FFA Chapter who has entered the most exhibits in the first 15 classes. Chapter must enter 5 classes to be eligible.
Class 19 - FFA Prepared Public Speaking Contest
Premiums for Class 19
1st - $75.00 2nd - $50.00 3rd - $25.00
Contest Date:
Monday, September 14 - 10:00am
Location: Jacob Building Culinary Arts Stage - 1st Floor
Pre-Registration is mandatory. The event is open to one student per grade per FFA chapter. Speeches should be 3 - 4 minutes in length. No visuals may be used for any speech. Contestants should not rely on note cards; overuse of note cards will result in penalties. No crowd or judge questions will be asked of the student.
Contestants will be judged on delivery and presentation (40 pts), construction and relevance (40 pts), creativity in overall presentation (15 pts), and adherence to time allotted (5 pts). Judges will stop contestant if speech goes over allotted time or if speech is inappropriate.
Topics for each grade will be released via email on August 3, 2026. Contact Stena.Meadows@tn.gov for further information.
Lot
01 - Freshmen (9th Grade)
02 - Sophomores (10th Grade)
03 - Juniors (11th Grade)
04 - Seniors (12th Grade)