It's not an April Fool's joke:  entries opened today, for State Fair competitions.

The first, happen way before the August event:  wines and beers are judged before the summer season (May entries) so that commercial enterprises can display and advertise their blue ribbons ahead of the Fair itself.  

For everyone else competing during the Fair's run, the early entry information allows time to practice recipes, or get animals in a training program, or to create the crafts and photos and more that will be entered.

Mel Chesbro, who oversees contests, says the information is online, as are options to enter,  at  www.NYSFair.org   You can even enter now and pay for those entries.   And, contestants get perks:  a parking pass to deliver the entries, and exhibitor's passes, which will let you see more than just your contest...for the price of the entry fee.