Prize Fight.

Win A Ribbon at This Year's State Fair. Seriously, It's Easier Than You Might Think.

The No. 1 task we asked readers to complete in our “100 Things To Do In Dallas Before You Die” list from a few weeks back was a big one — eating a corndog at the state fair. We placed it in the top spot on purpose, of course; there's not a single act more deserving of the top honor. The corndog, after all, was invented at The State Fair of Texas some 75 years ago. But our reason behind giving this task the top spot goes deeper than that. It's rooted in our love for the annual Fair Park-hosed affair.

And we're not alone in our affection for the 24-day event, either. The fair, which last year celebrated 125 years of entertainment in Dallas, draws approximately 3 million attendees each year. Needless to say, it's a major event.

So, this year, how about you take a little piece of this greatness home with you? Something even cooler than that ShamWow you bought last season. How about a ribbon?

Each year, the fair awards over 4,200 ribbons in the creative arts and cooking competitions. With numbers like that, your odds of winning one for yourself are probably higher than you thought. And, chances are, there's a competition in which you've got some expertise.

Lord knows there's enough of them. From photography to scale models to ceramics, the fair has contests for pretty much any hobbyist. Seriously: There's even one competition called “Glue a Shoe” where a prize is award to the person who most creative decorates a single shoe.

Perhaps the most popular contests are the cooking-oriented ones, of which there are literally hundreds. Unlike the more craft-oriented competitions, these ones actually take place during the fair itself. Among the more unique contests on this front? The “Bacon and Egg Contest,” which — you guessed it — is comprised of dishes made with bacon and eggs only. Also: The Great American Spam Championship, which is new to this year's affair.

Find your niche by checking out the entire list of competitions at this year's event here. Just don't wait too long to do so, as registration ends on Friday, July 27.

Photo via Terry Shuck via WikiCommons.