For the local fair it depends on the judges. Most are older and set in their ways about what a quilt should look like. No matter how well made example: if the binding isn't mitered it's counted against the quilter, one beautiful machine quilted quilt loses to the not so perfect quilt that was hand quilted. I have won two Viewer's Choice in local quilt shows and the quilts were not that well made compared to the others. The colors and patterns of the the quits caught the viewer's eye. Quilt show judges are usually fair and the best quilts do win ribbons. Enter quilts and get the feedback but do not get discouraged with what anyone says about your quilt. If I listened to others when they knew I was entering the quilt that won Viewer's Choice that quilt would have been in the dog's bed. LOL. I thought to my self, I like it so why not enter. I didn't get a judge's ribbon but I got the best one!