From left to right: Fair Poster Winners: Laura Jespersen, Terence Ulrich, Chris Forde, Stephanie Garcia, Zamara Huerta and Mayla Genovese. Photo by by Patricia Schallert.
by Patricia Schallert
The 2024 Commemorative and Youth Poster Contests, commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Ventura County Fair, were recently launched by the Ventura County Fairgrounds and Event Center. The winners in both the Youth and Adult Commemorative categories were celebrated on July 12.
Open to residents of Ventura County in grades 5 to 12, the Youth contest centered around the theme “Fair-ever Young.” Submissions were accepted until April 15, with judging criteria focusing on theme interpretation, originality, composition, and artistic skill. Megan Hook, the media director of the Ventura Fairgrounds, “praised the community’s artistic talents and imaginative interpretations.” This year saw a record-breaking 340 entries, a significant increase from the previous year’s count of under 75 entries in 2023, showcasing the community’s vibrant creativity.
The Commemorative poster contest was open to individuals aged 18 and above, with a $20 entry fee. Winners of the contest will be featured at the upcoming Ventura County Fair, scheduled to run from July 31 to August 11, 2024. Cash prizes of $1,000, $750, and $500 were awarded to the top three entries, with Christopher Forde earning first place, Terence Ulrich securing second place, and Laura Jespersen taking third place.
In addition to the Commemorative poster contest, congratulations were also extended to the talented winners in the Youth category! Stephanie Garcia clinched first place, Zanara Huerta attained second place, and Maya Genovese achieved third place, representing grades 5 to 12.
Seventeen-year-old Stephanie Garcia, an aspiring artist, utilized watercolors as her chosen medium for her prize-winning poster. She cited her art teacher and family as major sources of inspiration during the creation process, drawing from the joyful memories of attending the fair with her loved ones. Stephanie aimed to capture the essence of fun and family bonding through her artwork, which seamlessly combined watercolors and digital art techniques.
On the other hand, Christopher Forbes, the talented winner of the Commemorative poster category, drew inspiration from his favorite fair rides and the sight of seniors relishing their time at the fairgrounds. Opting for colored pencils to bring his vision to life, Christopher sought to depict the sheer joy and excitement experienced by seniors as they immersed themselves in the festive atmosphere of the fair.
Youth Poster Contest
- 1st Place – Stephanie Garcia, 17 years old
- 2nd Place – Zamara Huerta, 17 years old
- 3rd Place – Mayla Genovese, 11 years old
Number of entries: 345
Commemorative Poster Contest
- 1st Place – Christopher Forde
- 2nd Place – Terence Ulrich
- 3rd Place – Laura Jespersen
Number of entries: 42
Judging panel (for both contests) included:
- City of Ventura Mayor Joe Schroeder
- Ventura Police Chief Darin Schindler
- Ventura County Fire Department Chief Dustin Gardner
- Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Sheriff Andrew Salinas
- Carley Logue, Carbar Designs
- Cynthia Frutos, Director Ventura Office of Education
- Dean Kato, California Strawberry Festival Chair
- Greg Wray, Rotary Club of Ventura & retired Master Illustrator for Disney
- Betsy Chess, 31st District Agricultural Association Board member
- Chris Dryden, Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation trustee
- Will Pidduck, Ventura County Fairgrounds Foundation trustee
- Jim Naylor, Owner of the Jim Naylor (Ventura) Raceway
