The creator of the top design wins $500, a pair of season passes to the fair, and the satisfaction of seeing their artwork used to promote the fair on everything from posters, billboards, T-shirts and advertising to schedules, the fair’s website and Facebook. The competition is open to Merced County residents only.

“We encourage the talented artists in our community to have some fun and show us their most creative designs for our logo contest,” said Tom Musser, the fair’s CEO.

The fair’s board of directors will select the first, second and third place graphic design winners at their October 18 board meeting. All eligible entries will be assigned a number for judging. The numbered entries will be reviewed by the fair’s marketing/promotions committee before the winning entries are selected by the fair board. The entrants’ names won’t be revealed until after the winners are picked. The second and third place winners will each receive a pair of season passes to the fair.

To enter the contest, artists may use any medium and submit a maximum of three entries on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper. All entries become the Merced County Fair’s property and won’t be returned to the artist. The winning entry may be altered for marketing purposes.

Entries may be submitted to the fairgrounds office, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way or mailed to the Merced County Fair, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced CA. 95341. Submissions should include the entrant’s name, address and phone number and a copy of the following statement with your signature: “The logo entry (entries) are the artist’s own original, artistic creation and intellectual property.”