RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Association of Agricultural Fairs (NCAOAF) has officially opened its 2026 Awards Program, giving agricultural fairs across the state the opportunity to showcase their accomplishments in education, agriculture, marketing, and community engagement.

The annual awards recognize the outstanding work of local and regional fairs that promote North Carolina agriculture while providing educational opportunities and family-friendly entertainment. This year's program also introduces several updates designed to make the application process easier, more efficient, and more transparent.

Digital Submission Process

For the first time, all award entries will be submitted electronically.

Entries should be emailed to Cathy Horton at cathy@seasag.com. All narratives and supporting materials must be submitted as PDF files. Photos should be placed into a document with captions explaining each image before being saved as a PDF. Fairs are also asked to follow the required file naming conventions included with the application materials.

The move to electronic submissions will streamline the review process while creating a secure digital archive of award entries.

Clearer Judging Standards

To help applicants better prepare their submissions, detailed judging rubrics have been added directly to each application. These scoring guides outline exactly what judges will be looking for, allowing fairs to better highlight their educational programming, community involvement, and overall impact.

Expanded Media Awards

The 2026 Awards Program also expands its Media Awards to recognize excellence across a wide range of marketing platforms.

Awards will be presented in nine categories:

• Print Advertising (Newspapers and Magazines)
• Promotional Materials (Posters, Flyers, Brochures, etc.)
• Digital Advertising (Websites, Social Media, Email)
• Billboards (Printed or Digital)
• Audio (Radio or Podcasts)
• Video Promotion (Television, Streaming, or Social Media)
• Social Media Campaigns
• Website
• Annual Logo Design

Fairs that enter at least six of the nine media categories will be eligible for the prestigious Grand Champion Media Award, recognizing overall excellence in fair marketing and promotion.

Submission Deadline

All award entries must be received by Monday, November 9, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Applicants should also keep the following requirements in mind:

• General, Agriculture, and Youth Awards: Maximum of five pages for the narrative and five pages of supporting materials.
• Media Awards: One page of supporting material per category.
• All photos must include captions explaining how the materials were used.
• Audio and video entries must include working links.
• All applications can be downloaded from the NC Assocation of Agriculture Fairs website (https://ncagfairs.com/pageserver/awards)
• To submit any of the awards you must be a member of the NCAOAF.

Fair managers with questions about the updated submission process or technical requirements may contact Becky Wilder, Chair of the NCAOAF Awards Committee, at 252-340-3291 (call or text).

The complete awards packet and submission guidelines are available to all NCAOAF member fairs.