CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Fair’s food competitions will again reward the county’s best bakers and home canners, but contestants should pay close attention to the calendar before heading to the fairgrounds.
Baked goods have a new turn-in day for 2026. Every baking entry must arrive from 9 a.m.-noon Wednesday, Oct. 14, the day before the fair opens. Home-canned foods have three earlier intake periods in the Main Exhibit Building.
The fair will run Oct. 15-24 at the Cullman County Fairgrounds.
Canning deadlines and requirements
Home-canned food may be submitted during the following periods:
- Saturday, Oct. 10, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Monday, Oct. 12, noon-5 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 13, noon-5 p.m.
Open canning divisions include fruits and juices, vegetables and juices, meats, dried foods, jams, jellies, butters and preserves and pickles and relishes.
The fair also offers condensed Senior and Youth divisions.
Entries must be sealed in standard jelly, pint or quart glass containers. Rings must remain on the jars, and lids must be clean and free of rust or spots.
The fair will mark each lid as proof of submission, and previously submitted canned goods will not be accepted.
Contestants may enter up to 25 canned items across all divisions, with no more than one entry in a particular class.
Judges consider appearance, color, clearness, texture, uniformity and packing.
What bakers need to bring
Open baking is for contestants 13 and older. The Youth division is for children 12 and younger, while a separate Senior division is available for people 65 and older.
The Open department includes cakes, cookies, candies, pies, quick breads and yeast breads. Youth bakers may also compete in classes including cupcakes, biscuits, cornbread and Mexican cornbread.
All entries must be placed on disposable plates or bases and enclosed in zip-close bags or plastic wrap.
Pies should be baked in disposable aluminum tins. Cakes should rest on foil-covered heavy cardboard extending approximately 1 inch beyond the cake.
Except for decorated cakes, contestants should bring one-half of a cake. Bread entries require one-half loaf or one mini-loaf. Cookie, brownie and candy entries require 12 pieces, while biscuit and muffin entries require six. Pie entries call for one-half pie or three tarts.
A recipe must accompany each entry. Purchased items are not eligible, and all baked entries become the property of the Cullman County Fair Association.
Decorated cakes may use dummy bases. Judges score most baked goods 25% on appearance and 75% on taste and texture. Decorated cakes and youth decorated cupcakes are judged on decoration alone.
King or Queen of the Kitchen returns
The King or Queen of the Kitchen title remains part of the 2026 fair, and it carries the largest cash award in the food department.
The competition is not a live cookoff or a contest decided by one signature dish. It rewards consistent success throughout the six Open baking divisions.
A contestant must declare for King or Queen of the Kitchen when entering and submit at least 10 baked items. The entries must include at least one cake, cookie, candy, pie, quick bread and yeast bread. Four additional items may come from any eligible Open baking classes.
If a contestant submits more than 10 items, the top 10 results are scored, but the total must still include one entry from each of the six divisions.
A first-place finish earns seven points, second earns four and third earns one.
Senior and Youth entries do not count toward the Open Kitchen title. Past King or Queen winners may compete again.
The rules provide for a certificate, check and announcement of the winner during the fair. The fair’s exhibitor page recognizes Amanda Adams as its 2025 Queen of the Kitchen.
A Kitchen title for younger bakers
Children 12 and younger may pursue the Prince or Princess of the Kitchen title.
Youth contestants must declare for the competition and enter at least four items in four different baking classes. If more than four are submitted, the four highest-scoring results count.
The same point system applies: seven points for first, four for second and one for third.
The fair recognizes Elijah Wright as its 2025 Prince of the Kitchen.
Food competition awards
The posted awards are:
| Division | First | Second | Third | Special award or note |
| Open, Senior and Youth canning | $15 | $12 | $10 | Paid by class |
| Open, Senior and Youth baking | $15 | $12 | $10 | Rules list a $7 entry reimbursement |
| King or Queen of the Kitchen | $250 | $175 | $100 | Cumulative Open baking score |
| Prince or Princess of the Kitchen | $100 | $75 | $50 | Four best Youth baking results |
| FCCLA food entries | $15 | $12 | $10 | Rules list a $7 baking reimbursement |
All exhibitors must register and obtain three current-year barcode stickers for every item entered. Returning non-livestock exhibitors from 2025 are automatically preregistered.
New exhibitors may register at www.cullmanfair.org/entry-forms, and parents must register participating children in each child’s name. FCCLA students register through their teachers.
Food exhibits will be judged Thursday, Oct. 15, while the exhibit area is closed to the public. Entries and premium checks may be picked up from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.
Complete food-division rules are posted at www.cullmanfair.org/exhibitor-info.
The Cullman County Fairgrounds are at 1501 Sportsman Lake Road NW. Questions may be directed to 256-734-0661, 256-734-0339 or cullmanfair0@gmail.com.
