While at the fair today, we checked out the preserving exhibits.
There was some nice stuff - a few pretty marmalades, apple butters,
pie fillings and tomatoes but nothing really out of the ordinary. One
odd thing we saw was many jars seemingly in the same categories, e.g.,
multiple strawberry jams, all with 1st or 2nd or 3rd place ribbon
sticker on them. I asked a gal at the info table and she said that
all entries are judged independently, not against one another. So
basically if an entry meets the basic criteria, it "wins" a little
blue ribbon sticker. There were a few special entries, a sort of best
in show situation, that were put out in a special case.

Has it always been that way and I just haven't noticed? I thought you
entered your strawberry jam and if it was the best of all it got a
blue ribbon. This just seems to make everyone's entry an "also
ran".

Not to criticize the entries at all but after perusing the "winners",
I am feeling pretty confident about entering next year. If my
lavender keeps growing at the rate it has been, I'm definitely using
that in some combination - apple lavender jelly maybe, or lavender
peach depending on what peaches I can get in time.

Cheers!