COMPETITION INFORMATION & RULES

1. This year's theme is Gourds For All Seasons.
2. Exhibitors must be members of a Gourd Society to have entries in the show.
3. Only one entry per class per person will be allowed.
4. Entries must be exhibitor's own work, unless otherwise noted. Entry classes AA68 and AP68 are for collaborative pieces.
5. No entries will be allowed for pieces that have been entered in a previous Kentucky Gourd Show judged competition.
6. Entry Forms are located in the middle of the show booklet. Please fill out both sides and mail, with any fees, to Betsy Young, 8521 Penn. Run Rd., Louisville, KY 40228. If the Young Artists Division entries are confusing, contact Carol Bishop, gourdlady@insightbb.com, (502)254-5201, for help.
7. Entry tags will be provided. Tags can be mailed in advance for $2.50 for 25 tags or less, $3.50 for 26 – 50 tags, $4.50 for 51 - 75 tags and $5.50 for more than 75 tags. All entries must be pre-registered by April 25, 2009, to allow time for entry tags to be mailed to you before the show. No tags will be mailed after that date.
8. Entries will be accepted on Friday evening, between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Savings Time. Entries may be accepted on Saturday morning, between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. EDST by prior arrangement with the registration chair only. No entries will be accepted after 8:00 a.m. EDST on Saturday. We appreciate Friday entries; they allow us to set up entries to display your work to its best advantage.
9. Exhibitor packets, including show admission badges and entry tags not mailed in advance, may be picked up in the Library/Media Center on Friday evening between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. EDST and Saturday morning between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. EDST.
10. After judging, tags for entries receiving ribbons will be unfolded so that the exhibitor's name is shown. A 3x5 card with details of techniques and products used on the entry may be attached to the entry tag string and placed with the entry before the judging. No business cards are allowed on entries until judging is completed, but they may be placed with exhibits after judging is finished.
11. All entries must remain in place until 4:00 p.m. EDST on Sunday. Early removal of items will disqualify you from entering competition the following year.
12. All entries improperly placed will be disqualified. See Entering Your Gourd and Winning a Ribbon on pages 27-28. Assistance in entry placement is available at check-in. Bring your gourds to the Registration area in the Media Center, see one of the volunteers who will help you to make sure they are in the right entry class, and leave them there. We will put them in the display area for you.
13. Judging will begin at 8:30 a.m. EDST on Saturday. The exhibit area will be closed during judging. Judges' decisions are final.
14. Ribbons will be given to the top five (5) entries in each class, at the judges' discretion. Fewer ribbons may be awarded than the number of entries available in each class if the entries do not meet requirements for the class. If there is only one entry in a class, it does not guarantee a blue ribbon. Be sure to read How to Clean a Gourd for Competition on page 26 since improperly cleaned gourds are a major reason for disqualification.
15. At the time of judging, stick-on ribbons will be attached to Entry Tags. They may be exchanged for regular ribbons when entries are picked up at the end of the show. Bring the entry tag, with stick-on ribbon attached, to the attendant for exchange when picking up entries on Sunday after 4:00 p.m. EDST.
16. Special judges' awards will be presented at the Saturday night dinner for:
    • Best Dried Gourd Entry
    • Best crafted gourd in: School/Youth Organization, Primary, Junior, Youth, Teen, Adult Amateur and Adult Professional
    • Best Floral entry
    • Best Artist's Challenge entry
17. A Best of Show Award will be made by the KGS Executive Board.
18. An award will be given for Most Blue Ribbons based on the largest number of blue ribbons received by one person.
19. A $50 cash prize will be awarded for the largest Lagenaria in circumference.
20. A $50 cash prize will be given for the first place Gourd Artist's Display entry.
21. The Jim Story Memorial Award, a $25 cash prize will be given for the first place Hand-trained Long-handle Dipper Gourd entry.
22. A $25 cash prize and one year free membership in the Kentucky Gourd Society will be given to the person who has the most entries.
23. A one-year free membership in the Kentucky Gourd Society will be given to the person with the second most entries.
24. A $10 cash prize will be given for the best Visual Gourd Tutorial.
25. The Kentucky Gourd Society, Inc. will not be responsible for damage to or theft of items.

VENDOR RULES & INFORMATION

1. Each vendor must enter at least five (5) entry classes.
2. Vendors must have proof of membership in a gourd society in order to enter competition and/or sell their products. KGS membership applications will be available at the show for non-gourd society entrants.
3. Eighty (80) percent of goods offered for sale by dried and crafted gourd vendors must be gourds. Twenty (20) percent may be other related materials.
4. Gourds sold inside must be cleaned.
5. Twenty-eight (28) booth spaces are available inside on a first come basis (based on receipt of your paid, completed registration).
6. Outside vendors will be limited to twelve (12) on a first come basis (based on receipt of your paid, completed registration).
7. A Hospitality Room will be available on Friday night from 6:00 p.m. EDST until 8:00 p.m. EDST. Donations are appreciated.
8. Vendors can pick up packets, including show admission badges and entry tags not mailed in advance, and set up booths on Friday night between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time.
   • Let us know if you need help getting your entries to the exhibit area. If you have pre-registered and have entry tags attached to your entries, we will be happy to handle them for you.
   • Inside vendor packets may be picked up in the Library/Media Center.
   • Outside vendor packets may be picked up outside, from Bonnie Drake.
9. Vendors must be set up by 8:00 a.m. EDST Saturday, and stay until the show closes at 4:00 p.m. EDST on Sunday. Vendors who leave before 4:00 p.m. EDST Sunday will not be allowed to participate in the next year's show.
10. Vendor fees will be charged according to the following table. For completed applications received by April 25, there will be a $5 discount. To assure delivery, they should be postmarked by April 18. Only completed entry forms (including competition entries and fees) will be eligible for the early registration discount.

    Location	Size	With 5 entries *	Received by April 25, 2009	Received after April 25, 2009	KGS Provides
    Outside	10' x 24'	yes	$40	$45	2 show passes, no tables or chairs
    Inside	10' x 12'	yes	$40	$45	2 show passes, no tables or chairs
    Inside	10' x 12'	yes	$45	$50	2 show passes, 1 table, 2 chairs
    Inside	10' x 12'	no *	$65	$70	2 show passes, 1 table, 2 chairs

11. * People selling food, gourd crafting supplies, tools, seed and books only may be a vendor without five (5) entries, for an additional $20 per booth. All crafted and dried gourd vendors must have five (5) entries.
12. Additional tables are available (inside only) for $10 each.
13. Additional show passes are available for $4 each.
14. Vendors wanting both inside and outside booths or multiple spaces inside or outside will be charged for each booth.
15. Payment deadline is April 25, 2009. Payment and completed applications received after that date will not be eligible for the $5 discount, but they are still due before the show.
16. Vendor fees are non-refundable.
17. After judging has been completed, you may place your business card or a 3x5 card telling what products were used in creating your entry and where to obtain them on/next to your entry. Any entries sold as a result must remain on display until 4:00 pm on Sunday. Early removal will disqualify you from participation in next year's show.

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