So, what's the FRENZY?
Farm Animal Frenzy is a great opportunity to build some very positive barnyard...er... school spirit, not to mention a chance to win area bragging rights for creativity. The students get together and have put their imaginations to work creating a farm animal that reflects the N.C. State Fair's theme. The animals must be constructed from recycled materials! And speaking of a whole lotta green, the winning teams earn cash prizes for their schools!
2010 Farm Animal Frenzy is here!
Here's what y'all gotta do. Pay close attention, 'cause if there's one thing worse than cattle on the loose, it's cattle covered in paint on the loose!
TEACHERS! Download all the details.
The Task
The theme of the contest is “Celebrate What’s Great.”
Your sculpture should be a lean, green farm animal that reflects this theme! Talk with your classmates about your ideas. Be creative! Just try to remember that livestock like to be outdoors, so they’ll be on display outside for three weeks. Whatever you come up with, make sure it can stand up to Carolina elements, and don’t use materials that’ll invite other people to mess with your design!
The Animals
All animals will be built using the provided barrel. Information is included in the teacher's packet with instructions on how to convert the barrel into a functioning rain barrel.
- You can use the barrel in any way to turn it into a farm animal, but keep in mind that this is a “green” competition, and judges will be looking for a creation that is reusable after the Fair.
- Barrels are not required to hold water or function as a rain barrel during the Fair. You may turn the barrel on its side or keep it standing vertical – it is up to you how you incorporate the barrel into building your farm animal.
- If you decide to cut holes in the barrel for arms, legs or other decorations, that is acceptable. Just do your best to seal the holes so that the barrel can still hold water and be converted back into a functioning rain barrel after the competition is over.
- Remember, judges will be awarding points for “greenness” and functionality, for those animals that can be repurposed after the fair. One of the top prizes this year will go to the farm animal deemed “Exceptionally Green,” and awarded $750.
Acceptable farm animals include:
- Cow
- Chicken/Turkey
- Goat
- Horse
- Pig
- Sheep
Any animal not on the above list will not be eligible for the contest.
Some Ideas to Get You Started: What do you celebrate about North Carolina? About the Fair? Why do you go? What’s special about the fair?
The Materials
All work must contain a minimum of 80% recycled or recyclable material. Recycled material is any material that is being used for at least the second time. Absolutely NO sharp edges will be accepted. Please provide a list of materials used (both recycled/recyclable and non-recyclable materials used) by Oct. 10 when you deliver the animal.
- Suggestions: old toys, used plumbing parts, car parts, bicycle parts, used building materials, newspapers, cans, bottles, plastic, cardboard, fabric from old clothing, CDs, jewelry, etc.
- Not considered recycled, and therefore should not exceed 20% of the design: rocks, sticks, leaves, dirt, water, etc.
The Specifications
Animal creations must comply with the following specifications:
- Animals total dimensions should not exceed 16’ (HxLxD).
- Animals should weigh no more than 200 lbs.
- Animals should be soundly constructed and built to weather the outdoor elements during the Fair.
- Animals may be within reach of general public, so do not construct with any sharp or otherwise dangerous objects that may pose a hazard to fairgoers.
- All work must contain a minimum of 80% recycled or recyclable material.
Outdoor Art Competition
This is an outdoor art competition. Animals should be constructed in such a way to withstand the elements for at least 15 days. The animals will be displayed in a busy, public setting. All efforts will be made to keep the public from touching the artwork, but it might not be possible. As such, there shouldn’t be any sharp edges (i.e. broken glass, cut metal, etc) protruding from the artwork. Anything deemed unsafe for the public will not be displayed and therefore ineligible for the competition.
Eligibility
This competition is open to the first 20 schools to sign-up. High schools in Wake, Durham, Orange, Harnett, Johnston and Chatham counties are eligible to participate. Participating schools will be responsible for their own transportation of the animal creations to and from the fairgrounds. Schools will be given a $500 participation fee to offset the costs of materials and transportation.
General Rules
Each school’s entry must be original, and copying will not be tolerated.
Also keep in mind that once you agree to participate in the contest, you agree that your entry belongs to the State Fair. They can use your name and your artwork in any promotions, publications or exhibitions they see fit. Schools are encouraged to take back their completed animal art after the Fair for use on school property, or for any other purpose you deem appropriate. Please let us know whether or not you intend to keep your animal so that we can arrange a pick up time after the conclusion of the Fair.
No nudity or profanity! These are cows and horses, now, not the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The People’s Choice award will be determined through texting and online voting. Voting fraud will result in your school being disqualified. We ain’t kiddin’!
Submission Process
You can pick up your barrel and participation check beginning September 13 at the Fairgrounds. Please contact us to arrange a pick up time. You’ll have until October 10 to deliver the animal to the fairgrounds.
Each animal needs to come with a list of materials used and a short descriptive paragraph, to help fairgoers and the judges understand your creative process. Please submit a bio about your school’s animal via email to Natalie.Alford@ncagr.gov no later than October 1. Bios should be between 50-100 words, maximum, and should describe what type of animal you have created.
We need final photos of your animal! Please submit at least four photos (if you submit more, we’ll choose the best four) of your completed animal via email to Natalie.Alford@ncagr.gov by October 10. Try to submit photos that clearly show all sides of your animal. Photos help online People’s Choice Award voters to see the animals they are voting for. Official judging will take place October 11 and the People’s Choice judging will start on October 14.
The N.C. State Fair will get the word out by sending information to the media, and they’ll be the ones to oversee the judging.The judges will pick a “Best Overall” winner, an “Exceptionally Green” winner and “Exceptionally Creative” winner.
Judging Criteria
The judges will be looking for lots of different things, but they’ll want to see how clearly and creatively you and your classmates created a green farm animal and stuck to the theme of the North Carolina State Fair, “Celebrate What’s Great.”
- 100 possible points: “Green” and Functionality
- 100 possible points: Creativity
- 100 possible points: Use of the theme “Celebrate What’s Great”
- 100 possible points: Adhering to the rules, regulations, specifications and materials
Great Prizes
After all that, a winner will be decided! Well, three separate winners, actually:
- The Best Overall winner will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
- The Exceptionally Green winner will receive a $750 cash prize.
- The Exceptionally Creative winner will receive a $750 cash prize.
- Each school receives $500 for materials and transportation.
- There will also be a People’s Choice award, which will be determined through a vote (and again, any evidence of voting fraud will automatically disqualify a contestant for any and all awards). The People’s Choice winner receives a certificate and bragging rights.
And remember: much as we’re sure you need that new video game whatchacallit, all the prizes go to your school, not in your pocket!
Deadline
The deadline is October 10, 2010. Get hustlin’! Those animals won’t decorate themselves!
Announcing the Winners
After all the inspections and photos are done, the judges will announce the winners on October 11, 2010 at the N.C. State Fairgrounds. People’s Choice voting will start when the Fair opens on October 14, and will be announced on October 22, 2010.