Don’t miss out on the exciting competitions and events hosted by the Floriculture department this year at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds.

Floriculture is so much more than just floral arrangements and potted plants. There is a huge umbrella of Floriculture including: small engines, plant science, and even the marketing of plants.

“For four years, I participated in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and didn’t know much about Floriculture. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I learned about plant science and found my true passion,” said Lauren Cabral, MJC Plant Science Major. “If only I knew about plant science earlier, who knows where I could have been by now.”

Come join members of the area as they compete in a special “Chopped Gone Floral” competition on Saturday, July 13 at 1 p.m. Similar to the cooking show, Chopped, on Food Network, the contestants will have 45 minutes to complete a floral arrangement that will be judged. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of $200! All are invited and encouraged to come check out this entertaining event sponsored by Fresh Ideas Floral Company.

In addition, Floriculture will be hosting a Small Engines competition on Friday, July 19 starting at 5:30 p.m. Three teams will have to fix a “bug” in their small engine, a piece of landscape equipment. First team to get their engine started will be the winner.

There will also be many different hands on activities such as seed bombs, fairy garden doors, succulent plants, and the reading of the storybook “The Frightened Frog”. For more information, visit the website: Stancofair.com/Fair/CompetitiveExhibits/DailyContests. The MC for all events will be professional designer Bree Bartholomew.

“The biggest goal for the Floriculture department is to reach out to the next generation of students as well as fairgoers. We want to include the thoughts and opinions of others and see what our community finds to be interesting,” said Bunnie Becker, Floriculture Superintendent. “There is so much to be a part of when it comes to floriculture and all that it entails. It’s all about finding your niche. It is not just for those a part of a garden club or any specific program, anyone can do it and we encourage you to come and find out more. We would love to have you.”

The 2019 Stanislaus County Fair opens Friday, July 12 for a 10-day run. Discounted Fair admission tickets, unlimited ride wristbands, and the Fair season pass are now on sale; visit the Fair’s website for ticket sale information at www.stancofair.com.

The 2019 Fair will feature a children’s area presented by Sky Trek Aviation, 10 nights of free celebrity concerts included with Fair admission, a total of three stages of live entertainment, upwards of 30,000 local exhibits and over 1,750 animals. Metal-mashing motorsports in the FoodMaxx Arena will also be featured.