I've put 3 quilts in county fairs - 2 serious entries, 1 was a "Your Very First Quilt" and some of them (including mine) were atrocious indeed. Only 2 different counties, so my experience isn't that wide. Never EVER had a critique given, and that was the main reason I'd put the 2 serious entries IN! It was highly frustrating to me, because I'd seen really gorgeous quilts in both fairs, both beautiful patterns and fabric, and beautiful work, and I wanted a critique by the people judging them all... Nope, none. They critiqued my daughters chocolate chip cookies, but not my quilts! Mad Mommy.....