At the 2025 Kentucky State Fair, brownies stirred up more questions than ribbons. Thirty-seven brownie entries competed in the Brownies category, but none earned the first or third place, leaving second place to Sydney Hill of Louisville for brownies (4). The result has sparked chatter among contestants, with Hill calling it “Brownie Gate.”
Across the fair’s roughly 200 culinary categories, most results followed the traditional first, second and third places, but that isn’t universal this year. An informal look at the results shows 14 categories went without a first-place prize, up from seven in 2024. In some cases, there was a first place but no second or third; in others, no ribbon at all. A Kentucky State Fair spokesperson explained that judges “do not have to award each place” and that this is the largest department for general entries, with judges evaluating around 3,500 entries.
The no-ribbon phenomenon extended beyond brownies. Categories ranged from Tomato Preserves and Corn Relish to Pickled Eggs and Petit Fours, with some seeing a lone second place and no first or third. In the “Old Fashioned Jelly Roll” category, for example, only second place was awarded.
Contestants offered their own takes. Bunny Wickham of Madisonville, who has long been a prolific preserver, earned seven ribbons in 2024 and 20 in 2025, but in the category “Pickled Balsamic Pearl Onions” there was only one entry and no ribbon for first or second. “I make pickles for a living,” she says, and she stays upbeat about the fair, noting, “I’m just thrilled” to win any ribbon and planning to try for first next year if the category gets a blue ribbon again.
Landon Nguyen of Louisville, who racked up 15 ribbons in 2025, was puzzled by the lack of a ribbon in the “Blondies” category, which had 22 entries but awarded second place. Nguyen, who has earned multiple blue ribbons in other years, said he understands there are standards judges look for, but he’d like clearer feedback so he can improve. “Without knowing the why, I cannot improve my recipes,” he said.
Michael Francis, also from Louisville, collected 14 ribbons in 2025, including a second place in “Grape Jelly,” a category with nine entries where there was no first place listed. He said the experience remains enjoyable and that he’s focused on the fun and showing off his work, while hoping for more transparency about scoring.
The Kentucky State Fair’s rules are outlined in its premium book, which sets criteria for many categories. For examples in small cakes and cookies, the brownies/blondies umbrella specifies how entries should be presented and notes that fresh or dried fruit garnishes aren’t accepted. Yet the book does not appear to spell out how scoring is determined or when judges may opt not to award a top prize.
Despite the ambiguity, many competitors aren’t discouraged. Wickham plans to chase a first place in 2026 if the category gets a blue ribbon again. Nguyen intends to keep baking and competing, and Francis says he’ll continue entering for the experience and the joy of the craft.
The fair runs through August 24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, and organizers emphasize that while many categories award the traditional top three ribbons, the judging process doesn’t require awarding every place. For participants and audiences alike, the result is a reminder of the challenge and nuance involved in culinary judging—and a testament to the ongoing community tradition of the state fair.
Summary takeaways
– 2025 Kentucky State Fair featured no first or third place in the 37-entry brownies category, with second place awarded.
– About 14 of the fair’s 200+ culinary categories had no first-place prize this year; some categories awarded only second place, others awarded no ribbon at all.
– Judges are not required to award every place, and scoring criteria are laid out in the premium book, though the book may not spell out every rationale behind a score.
– Contestants expressed a mix of frustration and resolve, with many planning to return next year to improve, explain their scoring choices, or simply enjoy the competition and community.