The 2026 Sarasota County agricultural Fair opens on Friday, March 13, and, although it’s best known for Ferris wheels, 4-H cows and fried everything, at its heart, the fair is a homegrown community collection of residents’ creative and practical talents. It’s a tradition that began in the early 1800s, when state agricultural fairs became demonstrations of local handmade goods and animal exhibitions. 

Arts and crafts were the “building blocks” of all county fairs, Smithsonian Magazine says in its illustrated book State Fairs: Growing American Craft. Thankfully, these American traditions continue at the Sarasota County Fair. Just head to the 6,600-square-foot Potter Building, where artistic displays by area amateurs adorn every square inch.

Each year, the Sarasota County Fair’s creative arts committee arranges nearly 2,000 submissions to the show in eight divisions that include class and group projects, collections, crafts, culinary arts and baking, fine arts, horticulture, needlecraft and a miscellaneous division. Among those divisions are more than 350 categories with artistic craft endeavors like acrylic painting, sculpture and knitting, alongside unique craftwork like basketry, toy making and beadwork.

“Photography is by far the most popular category,” says creative arts committee co-chair Teddi Seebach. Sebach, 76, and her co-chair Jean Hoopes, 77, met while attending Riverview High School and have each been involved on the committee for approximately 40 years. “My favorite submissions, no matter the category, are made by the kids,” Seebach says. Hoopes, meanwhile, is a staunch supporter of the fabric arts, specifically crocheting. 

Throughout the year, Seebach, Hoopes and the rest of the 11-person committee distribute application packets around the county—at schools, assisted living facilities, libraries and anywhere else groups of people might get together—to get the word out that anyone and everyone, starting at age five, can submit their handiwork for a chance to win a blue ribbon and a $5 cash prize. “In the 1990s, we would have as many as 5,000 submissions every year,” Hoopes says. “The schools were a lot more involved, so there was a lot of student art.”

Although the committee works hard to garner interest throughout the year, the work, which is completely volunteer-based, intensifies after the New Year, when the committee starts to recruit judges, and coordinate scheduling for the committee members and other volunteers the week of the fair. “We really need new members, as our committee gets smaller and smaller,” Seebach says. “We’d love to have a new generation of young people join the committee, and we’d love high school students to know that we welcome them to come pursue their volunteer hours with us during March. The more volunteers, the lighter the work.”

While that blue ribbon prize and a $5 bill may sound like the highest honor, they actually unlock the next round of judging. And that’s when the real stakes emerge:  $10 and a blue rosette for best in your section, $25 and a purple rosette for best in division, and $50 for best in show and a “special” rosette. The awards aren’t stackable, so participants won’t walk away with $90 if they sweep the show. But still, no one is really competing for the cash. That blue ribbon is recognition enough.

When the fair opens on March 13, head to the Potter Building before riding the ferris wheel. The winners will have been chosen, and visitors will see arts and crafts created across generations.