I remember the days when I waited by the mailbox, hoping for some little white postcards that would tell me if my photos or artworks were accepted, not accepted, accepted with a ribbon, or in one case – accepted, and then un-accepted due to building space limitations.
That being said, the New York State Fair has moved from postcards to an email system. I now have to wait for the big release o’ news on Friday morning. Or Friday afternoon. Or Thursday evening overnight, for all I know.
So I first received an email for my latch hook rug … in the Creative Arts competition.
And this was the response I received.
“Hi Chuck Miller, Thank you for entering the NYS Fair Creative Arts competitions! We are pleased to inform you that all your entry/entries have been accepted! We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 NYS Fair. You should have already received your complimentary credentials, please let us know if you have not or had any issues.“
Fantastic! My latch hook rug made the grade.
Now let’s see how my photographs did.
These were my six entries for 2026.
Yesterday I received an email for these items.
And here’s the results.
“Thank you for entering the NYS Fair Creative Arts Center Photography competitions! Listed below is a list of your entries that were either accepted or not accepted. We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 NYS Fair. You should have already received your complimentary credentials, please let us know if you have not or had any issues. Thank you! Accepted: 287, 288, 290, 291 Not Accepted: 289, 292.”
Aces! Four of them made the cut! Four of my photos will hang on the walls of the Harriet May Mills Art Center at the New York State Fairgrounds! Yay! Yippee!!
Okay, now I have to figure out which two got dropped.
I checked my hangtag receipts and …
Uh-oh. The hangtags only have the number code and my name – they don’t have the item titles.
So I don’t really know which four made the cut and which two missed.
Yet.
But I suppose all will be revealed when I attend the Fair this year.
I mean, if I had to guess, I’d say the three pieces that were most likely to make the cut were A CO Railfan’s Dream, Herbie Jr :v) Was Here, and The Shooting Star. That’s my best guess. But I could be completely off.
What say you, my blog readers? Which four of the six do you think passed the test? Comments appreciated. Give me your best thoughts on this. 😀
Because right now I’ve gone from one mystery – did they get in – to a second mystery – yes, some got in, but what constitutes “some”?
Chuck The Writer 