1. Minnesota State Fair

2. MBS State Fair Judging Criteria 2015

3. RULES - Abbreviated Each exhibitor may display a maximum of 5 trees.
Trees must be clean, healthy, and pest-free. Any plant material showing signs of disease or infestation will be denied entry.
Entries accepted Thursday, September 3, from 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Late entries will not be accepted.
Exhibitor completes 1 entry form per tree per completion instructions.
No trees may be removed prior to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, September 5th and must be picked up by 10:00 p.m.
Viewing stones may be exhibited without tree entry (and are encouraged) but will not be judged.
A complete set of rules is provided along with the entry forms.

4. 2011

5. CLASS There are 4 Class levels: Deciduous Coniferous Novice
Exhibit Only

6. CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
Deciduous – Type of Species. Exhibitor has maintained tree as bonsai for at least one year.
Coniferous – Type of Species. Exhibitor has maintained tree as bonsai for at least one year.
Novice – All Species. Entrants with 3 years or less experience, judging rules less strict.
Exhibit Only – All Species. Not judged for Best in Show, critique available.
Only trees entered in the Deciduous and Coniferous Classes are eligible for Best in Show. Trees previously awarded Best in Show, Novice and Exhibit Only trees are eligible for other awards. Judge’s critique available for Exhibit Only Class, if selected on entry form.

7. 2011

8. DIVISONS Within each Class there are 5 Divisions: Small (8” or less)
Medium (8” - 22”)
Large (22” - )
Landscape (forest, penjing, sakei)
Shoji Display
Division category is exhibitor’s decision. When determining size, do not include the height of the pot. For landscape division, select the Class that best represents the trees in the composition.

9. Judging Criteria – Design Score
Design Score (35 pts)
Root structure
Trunk and branch taper
Silhouette
Well proportioned – balanced
Creative
Container style, size, color, placement of tree
Artistic Treatment of deadwood

10. Judging Criteria – Technique Score
Technique Score (35 pts)
Wiring (correctly applied, neat, unobtrusive, appropriately sized, effective)
Appropriate leaf and needle reduction
Branch placement
Pruning (branch ramification, stubs, scarring)
Properly groomed (dead leaves and twigs removed, old foliage and axillary growth removed, foliage thinned and pinched
Container is clean and free of defects

11. Judging Criteria – Horticulture Score
Horticulture Score (35 pts)
Overall Health (color, vigor)
Signs of insect or disease damage
Environmental stress
Potted properly (healthy roots, well distributed)
Surface treatment (presence of weeds, harmful algae, etc.,)

12. Judging Criteria - Artistry Score
Artistry Score (20, 30, 35% of sub-total) allows for the judge to evaluate the tree on attributes not already assessed in the previous categories and may include but is not limited to:
Emotional response to the tree and it’s design
Visual impact of composition
May be unconventional but highly creative and expresses the nature of the tree or it’s natural environment.
Tree may be adequate or technically correct but could be improved through further development of overall design.

13. DIVISON SCORING – Maximum points
A maximum of 35 points will be scored for each category to determine the sub-total:
Design (35 pts.)
Technique (35 pts.)
Horticulture (35 pts.)
These values will be added together to determine the sub-total (105 pts.).
The judge will determine the Artistry category:
Exceptional (30%) (31.50 pts)
Very Good (25%) (26.25 pts.)
Good (20%) (21 pts.)
The multiplier will be calculated using the sub-total and added to the sub-total to determine the Total Score.
Exceptional ( pts.)
Very Good ( pts.)
Good (126 pts.)

14. DIVISON SCORING – Maximum points
Total Score ( pts)
Artistry Score (30%) (31.50 pts)
Sub-Total (105 pts)
Design Score (35 pts)
Technique Score (35 pts)
Horticulture Score (35 pts)

15. Shoji Display

16. Judging Criteria – Shoji display
Shoji Composition Score (25 pts)
Main tree is focal point; accents and scroll are appropriate to season and harmonious
Components are directed toward center of display
Components are visually balanced
Shoji size is appropriate for elements of display
Overall impression of judge; balance, beauty, and harmony of display as a whole

17. SCORING – Shoji Display Division
The Total Score of the tree is determined.
The Shoji Composition Score determined and is added to the Total Score of the tree.
The combined score determines the Division winner for the Shoji Display.
The tree is eligible for Best in Show Award. Only the Total Score of the tree is considered when determining Division winner.
Shoji displays are limited to 6 MBS screens, three sizes available. Entrants are encouraged to reserve shoji display prior to State Fair set-up.

18. SCORING – Shoji Display Division
Shoji Division Score ( pts)
Shoji Composition Score (25 pts)
Total Score (Tree Only) ( pts)
Artistry Score (30%) (31.50 pts)
Sub-Total (105 pts)
Design Score (35 pts)
Technique Score (35 pts)
Horticulture Score (35 pts)

19. AWARDS – Division
First, Second and Third place ribbons are awarded to each Division within the Deciduous, Coniferous and Novice Classes.
Highest scoring tree for Deciduous, Coniferous and Novice is awarded Division ribbon.
If there is a tie in scoring, the judge will determine Division winner.
Judge’s decision is final

20. AWARDS - Division
1st Place Division (Coniferous, Deciduous and Novice)
1st Place Small
1st Place Medium
1st Place Large
1st Place Landscape
1st Place Shoji (tree only)

21. 2012 Best in Show

22. AWARDS – Best in Show
Best of Show plague is awarded to the highest scoring tree of the Deciduous and Coniferous Classes.
Novice and Exhibit Only trees are not eligible for Best in Show award.
If there is a tie in scoring, the judge will determine Best in Show.
Judge’s decision is final

23. Award – Best in Show Best In Show 1st Place Class Deciduous
1st Place Class Coniferous
2014 Best in Show
Deciduous/Medium Tree scored pts of a possible pts
Won by 1.25 pts

24. AWARDS - Other MBS President’s Award ribbon
All entries eligible
Judge’s Award of Merit ribbon
Best Pine and Best Tropical plaques
Judge’s choice

25. American Bonsai Society Award
This year, the judge will be selecting a North American species tree for the ABS Award…