Oregon State Fair farm and garden competition judge Larry Smith judges a batch of raspberries in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Some people bring the largest onion they can grow, or the curviest zucchini. Others just want to grow the best looking tomatoes or apples.
It’s a kind of beauty contest, said fruit and vegetable competition judge Larry Smith.
“You’re looking for marketability, something that someone would buy at a farmers market at $2.98 a pound,” Smith said. And you’re looking for uniformity and color, size and shape.”
Local farmer Jim Micklelsen presents his self-proclaimed “Jimalicious” corn to be judged in the Oregon State Fair farm and garden competition in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Oregon State Fair farm and garden competition judge Larry Smith determines the size and quality of an onion in comparison to other vegetables in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
An Oregon State Fair volunteer attaches ribbons to award-winning vegetables in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
(Left to right) Student judge Anne Juurma and floral judge Laurelyn Schellin decide the quality of plants entered in the Oregon State Fair floral competition in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
A competitor in the Oregon State Fair floral competition puts one of her dahlias in a vase to be judged in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
A display of carrots titled “Freakish ‘Carrots in Love’” at the Oregon State Fair in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Rick Coufal, a participant in the Oregon State Fair floral competition, one of his wife’s flowers in a vase for judging in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Attendees of the Oregon State Fair check out the ribbon-earning vegetables of the past few days in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. For some, the Oregon State Fair competitions are a tradition that spans over multiple generations, many people having memories of attending and competing with their grandparents.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
Long time Oregon State Fair floral competitor Larry Smith blows dust off of his sunflower entry in Salem, Ore., Aug. 27, 2025. Smith has been entering the State Fair’s Agriculture and Horticulture competitions since 1967, when he entered the competition alongside his grandmother.
Morgan Barnaby / OPB
OPB’s Alejandro Figueroa sent in this audio postcard about the folks trying to grow the largest onion or the best tomatoes — as well as one man who judges them. Click play, below, to listen in:
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That was fruit and vegetable judge Larry Smith, Susan Nelson and contestants Sara Sicotte and Jim Micklelsen.
