Start the Year Strong: Inventorying Awards and Refreshing Your Event Categories for 2026

The start of a new year is a natural pause point for event planners. Fairs, school events, livestock shows, car shows, and community festivals all begin shifting back into planning mode once the holiday season winds down. January is the ideal time to reassess what you have, what you need, and how your event can evolve in 2026.

Two of the most valuable tasks you can complete early in the year are taking inventory of last season’s awards and supplies and reviewing your award categories to ensure they still reflect your event’s goals and participation trends. Together, these steps set the stage for a smoother and more organized planning season.

Take a Clear Inventory of Last Year’s Supplies

Before you can plan for the year ahead, it is essential to know exactly what is left from last season. This helps with budgeting, prevents surprises during the busiest months, and gives you a practical starting point.

Start with:

• Ribbons and rosettes. Count both standard and specialty awards and note colors or styles that ran out quickly.

• Banners and sashes. Confirm you have the right quantities for each top award and that titles, class names, and year information match the way you intend to list awards in 2026.

• Tickets. Review remaining quantities, especially if attendance grew last year.

• Condition check. Look for any items that were bent, crushed, or otherwise damaged in storage.

• Usage patterns. Identify categories where you consistently under-ordered or over ordered.

A clean and accurate inventory gives you a realistic picture of what you can reuse, where adjustments are needed, and which items should be reordered or redesigned for 2026.

Review Participation Trends From Last Season

Inventory is only half the story. Preparing for a strong 2026 season also requires looking at how your categories performed last year.

Ask yourself:

• Which divisions grew noticeably?
• Where did participation drop?
• Were any new interests emerging in your community?
• Did you run out of awards in certain classes?
• Did exhibitors or volunteers offer feedback on categories or awards?

Understanding these patterns early helps you make smarter and more efficient decisions when updating your award program.

Refresh and Update Your Award Categories for 2026

A new year is an excellent opportunity to refine your divisions and awards so they better match participation, streamline judging, and reflect your event’s identity.

Consider:

• Adding new specialty awards for growing categories or unique community traditions.
• Expanding youth or beginner divisions to encourage involvement.
• Creating engagement-based awards such as Judge’s Choice or People’s Favorite.
• Retiring categories that consistently see low turnout.
• Cleaning up naming conventions to make divisions clearer for exhibitors and judges.

Small adjustments in your award structure can result in a more engaging and better organized event, and they naturally improve the accuracy of your supply planning.

Align Your Updated Categories With Your Supply Needs

Once you have assessed last year’s inventory and identified changes to your categories, the next step is to sync the two.

This ensures that:

• You will not under order for fast-growing divisions.
• You avoid excess stock tied to categories that may shrink or be retired.

• Your budget reflects real participation and real needs.
  
  Aligning inventory with refreshed categories now can prevent stressful, last minute adjustments in the spring rush.
  
  

Set Your Event Up for Success Early

With your supplies reviewed and categories updated, you will enter the planning season with a clearer and more organized roadmap. Early preparation allows you to adjust thoughtfully, manage your budget with confidence, and ensure your awards reflect the energy and pride your exhibitors bring to your event.

When you are ready to begin planning your awards for 2026, Fair Publishing is here to help you design ribbons, rosettes, banners, and tickets that honor every division of your event.

Start planning today