The Illinois State Fair hosts a Meats Competition with classes for Commercial Ham, Bacon, Snack Sticks, Jerky and Smoked/Cooked Bratwurst. IAMP members are encouraged to place entries in this contest each year. The Illinois State Fair begins on the second Thursday of August each year and the Meats Competition Judging is held on the second Saturday of August at the State Fairgrounds.
The judging and entries are conducted by the University of Illinois and invites a guest professor from outside of Illinois to judge the contest.
All winners are invited to attend the Commodities Auction on Agriculture Day (Tuesday) during the Illinois State Fair. The Commodities Auction is held in the Livestock Pavilion just prior to the Governor’s Sale of Grand Champions.
The auction proceeds for the meat entries are donated to the University of Illinois Sleeter Bull Fund. Sleeter Bull was a professor at the University of Illinois from 1921-1956 and his appointments were in the Meat Science and Animal Nutrition fields. The scholarship funds are used to award a $400 scholarship to a graduate meat science student and an additional $400 to an undergraduate meat science student at the University of Illinois annually.
During the fair all entries and a meats display are at the Illinois Department of Agriculture Tent for viewing by fair participants.