Entry:
- Any business, organization, or individual is welcome to create a can sculpture to display at the 2024 Taylor County Fair from July 25-28.

- If you wish to enter a sculpture, please complete an entry form and return it to Cathy
Retzer – via email: cathyretzer@gmail.com or via mail: Cathy Retzer, 319 N. Third
Street, Medford, WI 54451
- Entry forms are due to Cathy Retzer ASAP. Space is limited so complete your entry form early to reserve your spot, entry forms will be first submitted first accepted.

Location:
- Your sculpture will be setup at the Taylor County Fair Grounds in the Exhibit Building
- Security – for security and safety - all sculptures will be roped off from the public so as
not to be touched.

Dates/Times:
- Setup: please plan to setup your sculpture at the Taylor County Fair Grounds on
Wednesday, July 24, from 5 pm to 8 pm or Thursday, July 25, from 8 am to 5 pm in the
Exhibit Building
- When transporting the can goods to the fair, please use the west entrance and
follow instructions of fair staff as to where your sculpture will be setup.
- Once the sculpture is finalized, a fair volunteer will inspect each sculpture to
make sure it is structurally sound and safe.
- Once your sculpture is completed, please answer the questions found on your
entry form and leave at your sculpture.
- When the sculpture is completed, please have a fair volunteer or one of your
group members take a photo of your group with your sculpture.
- You only have the times on Wednesday and Thursday to setup and work on your
sculpture. (the setup times are subject to change and additional time may be
given due to weather which might cause delays in setup. In the event more time
is to be given, your contact person will be called and/or emailed with that
information)

​

Judging:

- Judging of the sculptures will take place at 5:30 pm on Thursday, July 25. You
and your sculpture creators are invited to stay for the judging and have photos taken
after results are announced.
 

Take down:

- Representatives from area food pantries will be picking up all the food items

from 5:30-7:00 pm on Sunday, July 28. If you want any props, building materials, non-
food items that were a part of your structure, please pick those up at that time. We

request that you have at least two volunteers from your group , if possible, to help take
down sculptures and load up the food from 5:30-7:00 pm on Sunday, July 28.

​

Sculpture Design & Materials:
- Size: you will have an 8 foot x 10 foot roped off area at the fair to construct and display
your sculpture.
Width: sculpture must not exceed 8 feet at its widest point
Height: sculpture must not be taller than 8 feet.

- Sculptures are created using non-perishable canned and boxed goods.
- Food should not be touching the floor. Place items on a table or plywood. Plastic pallets, 32" x 40" x 5.5" high, are available.  
- Majority of the sculpture must be created using non-perishable cans of food. Boxed
food items may be used but may not exceed 50% of the total number of food items
contained in the sculpture.
- Cans must not have been opened before. The original seal must remain on the food
items.
- Original labels must be on and remain on the can. You may not cover up or draw on the
labels or boxes. Labels must be on the can at all times in order to be able to be donated
to area food pantries.
- No expired foods or items with a use by date earlier than September, 2024, can be used.
- You can place a sign next to your sculpture that advertises your organization/business.
- Safety comes first! You can use certain building items to ensure the sculpture remains
intact and upright. These items include: lumber, rope, cardboard, wiring, tape. Please
do not use any glue or tape that will damage the cans or labels in any way. Any
structural items used should be hidden within the structure and out of sight whenever
possible. The focus of the sculpture is on the cans and food items used.
- Once the sculpture setup is finalized, a fair volunteer will inspect each sculpture
to make sure it is structurally sound and safe. This volunteer may require you to
remove or make changes to your sculpture to ensure it is safe. If you do not
make these changes, your entry will be removed from the contest and your
sculpture will be taken down immediately with the food then being donated to
the local food pantries.

- Props that fit with the design/theme of your sculpture can be used, but please keep the
use of props and other non-food items to a minimum.
- All the food items used in the sculptures will be donated to Taylor County food pantries
at the conclusion of the fair. The sculptures will remain on display at the fair from setup
until representatives from food pantries will take the food items starting at 5:30 pm on
Sunday, July 28. Again, please have people from your group help with the take down, if
possible.

- Here is a list of cans/food items that food pantries frequently use and would appreciate:
(you don’t have to use just these food items– this is just a suggestion of items as you
design your sculpture)

- Canned fruit (pears, pineapple, peaches, fruit cocktail)
- Canned vegetables (corn, mixed veggies, green beans, carrots, etc.)
- Canned soups
- Canned tuna, chicken
- Manwich, Ravioli, Spaghetti Os
- Pasta sauce, pasta boxes, box meals, Mac n’ Cheese, Hamburger Helper
- Cereal, rice, grains
- Peanut butter, jelly (no glass)

​

Judging/Prizes:
- Be creative! The theme for the fair this year is "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
- Judging of the sculptures will take place at Thursday starting at 5:30 pm. You and your
sculpture creators are invited to stay for the judging and have photos taken after results
are announced.
- A panel of 5 judges chosen by the Fair Leaders will decide on the winners.

There will be prizes awarded for:
- Best in Show
- Most Original Idea
- Most Colorful
- Most Cans Used
- Best Represents Fair Theme
- Crowd Favorite - determined by fair attendee votes. The Crowd Favorite votes
will be counted at 3:00 pm on Sunday, July 28.

​

- Winners will be notified immediately- if a representative from an organization is not
present- the contact person will be notified via phone and/or email by the Wednesday
after the fair.
- Winners will be announced during the fair, on the fair website and Facebook page.
- Photos of the sculptures might be posted on the fair website & Facebook page.
- The big winners are all the local people in need that will receive these donations of
food!

​

Any questions regarding the rules of the contest, please contact Cathy Retzer at cathyretzer@gmail.com or 715-748-4806.

 

Be Creative and Have Fun!

Thank you for your support of our area food pantries!

​

​

​