The County Fair Ribbon Ordering Guide: What to Order for Every Award Level

Ordering ribbons for a county fair sounds simple until you sit down with the fair book.

Between departments, divisions, classes, youth programs, livestock shows, open exhibits, pageants, special awards, and sponsor recognition, it is easy to miss something.

The easiest way to avoid fair-week stress is to plan your ribbon order by award level before choosing products.

This guide will help fair managers, fair secretaries, fair boards, superintendents, and 4-H / FFA leaders understand what to order for each type of recognition, from class ribbons to Grand Champion rosettes.

Start with Your Award Structure

Before choosing ribbon styles or quantities, map out how awards are organized at your fair.

A simple structure looks like this:

Department → Division → Class → Award Level → Quantity

For example, your livestock department may include several species. Each species may include divisions. Each division may include multiple classes. Each class may award 1st through 5th place, while the division may also need Champion and Reserve Champion awards.

Start by reviewing your fair book, premium book, or department lists. Then mark every area that needs recognition, including livestock, open class exhibits, youth projects, pageants, school contests, and special events.

Class Ribbons

Class ribbons usually make up the largest part of a county fair ribbon order.

These are the standard awards given within each individual class or contest. They are commonly used for livestock classes, 4-H and FFA projects, open class exhibits, photography, baked goods, crafts, vegetables, flowers, and school entries.

Common class ribbon levels include:

• 1st through 5th places
• Honorable Mention
• Blue, Red, and White grade ratings

For most class-level awards, standard flat ribbons or award ribbons are a practical choice. They are clear, familiar, easy to organize, and affordable when you need to recognize many exhibitors.

To estimate quantities, count the number of classes and multiply by the number of placements.

For example, if a department has 40 classes and awards 1st through 5th place, that department needs 200 class ribbons.

40 classes × 5 placements = 200 ribbons

Add a small buffer for late entries, added classes, damaged ribbons, or judging changes.

Participation Ribbons

Participation ribbons are useful when the goal is encouragement rather than ranked placement.

They are especially helpful for 4H Cloverbud programs, peewee livestock shows, youth events, school contests, children’s activities, parade entries, and community competitions.

For younger exhibitors, a participation ribbon may be the first ribbon they ever receive at the fair. It gives them something tangible to take home and helps make the experience feel special.

Estimate participation ribbons based on expected attendance or registrations, then add extras for walk-ups and late additions.

Division Awards

Division awards recognize winners above the class level but below the top overall award.

Examples may include Best Junior Baking Entry, Dairy Division Champion, Market Goat Division Champion, Senior Showmanship Winner, or Best Vegetable Exhibit.

These awards often deserve something more noticeable than a standard class ribbon because they represent “best among winners.” Depending on your budget and fair tradition, division awards may use larger ribbons, custom ribbons, or smaller rosettes.

A good rule of thumb: if the award recognizes a winner from a group of class winners, consider upgrading the award.

Champion and Reserve Champion Awards

Champion and Reserve Champion awards carry more prestige than standard class ribbons.

A Champion award usually recognizes the top entry within a department, breed, division, or show category. Reserve Champion recognizes the runner-up at that same level.

Common award titles include:

• Champion
• Reserve Champion
• Junior Champion
• Senior Champion
• Division Champion
• Breed Champion
• Showmanship Champion

These awards often appear in photos, social media posts, sponsor recognition, and family keepsakes. For that reason, many fairs choose rosettes or premium ribbons.

Before ordering, confirm that the wording matches your fair book.

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Awards

Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion awards are usually the most visible awards at the fair.

These awards recognize the top overall entry in a larger category, department, or show. Because they represent the highest level of achievement, they deserve special attention.

Many fairs choose larger rosettes, banners, plaques, trophies, or sponsor-recognition awards for this level.

A strong Grand Champion award may include the fair name, award title, year, sponsor name, and a matching banner or plaque.

Special, Memorial, and Sponsor Awards

Most fairs also have awards that do not fit neatly into the standard class structure.

These may include Best of Show, Judge’s Choice, Superintendent’s Award, Sportsmanship Award, Herdsmanship Award, Memorial Award, Sponsor Award, People’s Choice, or Outstanding Exhibitor.

Because these awards are often personal or highly visible, take extra care with wording. Confirm names, spelling, sponsor details, award titles, and dates early.

Depending on the award, custom ribbons, rosettes, plaques, or trophies may be appropriate.

Ribbons vs. Rosettes

Most county fairs use both ribbons and rosettes. The key is knowing where each fits.

Use ribbons when you need clear, affordable recognition for many exhibitors. Use rosettes when the award represents a higher level of achievement or a more memorable photo moment.

If you ordered from Fair Publishing before, you may not need to start from scratch. Request reorder help and we can review your previous order with you.

County Fair Ribbon Ordering Checklist

Before placing your order, confirm:

• Departments and divisions
• Classes and contests
• Placement levels
• Participation ribbons
• Champion and Reserve Champion awards
• Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion awards
• Best of Show and special awards
• Sponsor and memorial awards
• Ribbon colors
• Rosette styles
• Custom wording
• Fair name and year
• Event date
• In-hand date
• Shipping details
• Changes from last year’s order

Need Help Building Your Ribbon Order?

You do not have to figure out your fair ribbon order alone.

Fair Publishing helps fair managers, fair boards, secretaries, superintendents, and event organizers plan awards with confidence. Whether you are starting from this year’s fair book or updating a previous order, we can help you choose the right ribbons, rosettes, quantities, and award levels.

Start Planning with Fair Publishing today, or request reorder help to review last year’s award order before this year’s fair.

FAQ

What ribbons do county fairs usually need?

Most county fairs need class ribbons, participation ribbons, Champion and Reserve Champion awards, Grand Champion awards, Best of Show awards, and special recognition awards.

Should we use ribbons or rosettes for champion awards?

Standard ribbons work well for class placements. Rosettes are usually a better fit for Champion, Reserve Champion, Grand Champion, and special awards.

How do we know how many ribbons to order?

Count your classes, multiply by the number of placements, then add participation ribbons, champion awards, special awards, and a small buffer.

Can we reorder the same ribbons from last year?

Yes. If you ordered from Fair Publishing before, request reorder help so we can review your past order and update it for this year.