If you've never entered anything at the Beaver Valley Fall Fair, this is your year.

Firstly, because there is more than $8,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs at the 138th annual fair. And secondly, because new this year is a first-time exhibitor's prize for each class.

So grab a fair book and plan your entries. Entering the fair is easy. Simply bring all entries to the Beaver Valley Community Centre on Friday, Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Judging begins at 1 p.m. Friday. Exhibitors pay a $5 membership fee to the Beaver Valley Agricultural Society which also provides admission to the two-day fair. There are no additional fees to enter the various classes, with the exception of the horse show.

The fair isn't just for farmers, either. While there are agriculture-based classes for hay and grain and other field crops, anyone with an apple tree in their backyard or tomatoes growing in their garden can enter.

The first-time exhibitor prize for each class will be given to the first-time exhibitor with the most points in that class. A first-time exhibitor is defined by the Beaver Valley Agricultural Society as a person who has not entered an item in a particular class for the previous three years. The only class excluded from this new prize is the woodcarving class, which is also new this year.

There are classes at the fair to suit just about everyone. The fruit class includes 14 sections for apples, but it also includes sections for peaches, pears, plums, crabapples and grapes. For vegetable growers, the class includes some 60 sections ranging from beans to cabbage, cucumbers to onions, and potatoes to Swiss chard.

For those who love working in the kitchen, the culinary arts class has more than 60 sections to challenge exhibitors, ranging from bread to muffins, cookies to squares and cakes to pies. It includes a 60 per cent whole wheat loaf of bread with the winner going on to represent the Beaver Valley at the Ontario Agriculture Society's district competition.

The preserves class features more than 40 sections ranging from jams and jellies, to pickles and relishes, to candy and granola, while the homecraft class offers some 100 divisions ranging from the always-popular quilts, to afghans, doilies and pillows, as well as an assortment of clothing for men, women and children.

In addition, there are classes for various arts and crafts, as well as antiques and the special Golden Age class which is for entrants 60 years and older.

The theme challenge is back this year. That's where the fair board is challenging individuals or families to put together a display (using any medium, maximum of three feet by three feet in diameter) which illustrates this year's fair theme of "Learn to Grow, Grow to Learn."

Just for children, the school section includes 14 classes ranging from photography, flowers, model building, assorted arts and crafts, kitchen creations and French. There is no entry fee for the children's classes.

In addition, there are three special memorial awards. The Mary Haines Memorial is for overall fair participation and is presented to the person with the most points in all of the fruit, garden vegetables, culinary art, preserves, homecraft, display challenge, art, crafts, amateur photography, antiques, floral exhibits and woodcarving classes. The Wallace Carscadden Memorial is for the highest points from the fruit class, while the Hewgill Memorial is for family participation in the fair.

One of the highlights of this year's fair is the Beaver Valley Kinsmen's four-on-four hockey tournament. Entry is $250 per team with a maximum of 10 players plus one goalie. To register, call Rob Gilchrist, 519-538-5914 or email him at bobo1669@hotmail.com or call Jason Vail at 519-470-2687.

For complete information on the fair, including details of all classes, how to enter and prizes, see the fall fair book. It's available for free at Jessica's Book Nook and the L.E. Shore Memorial Library in Thornbury, Riverside Graphics in Clarksburg, Blue Mountain Gourmet Bakery in Heathcote and the Ravenna General Store. The fair is Sept. 5 and 6 at the Beaver Valley Community Centre and Moreau Park.

Admission to the fair is $5 for adults and $4 for students for a one-day pass, or $8 for adults and $5 for students for a two-day pass. Entry to the family skate on opening night is included with paid admission. As always, elementary school students and children under five are free.