Tiffany - Yes, you are right about the sponsorship. There is money donated by companies that have an interest in the product thus the higher prize money given to such things as pies and jams. There is far less interest in sponsoring the quilt display so that the art is recognized for all the time and hard work that is put into it. The larger sewing and quilt sponsors only do so at the big shows not at local fairs. Sometimes a gift certificate is donated by a LQS.