DC State Fair – Best Bud contest
A home-grow cannabis contest at the D.C. State Fair in Washington, D.C., billed as the first of its kind at a state fair and judged by eye, nose and touch.
- 1results on record
- 2015–2017years in our data
- 3editions
- 0matched to strains
- Washington, DClatest location
01Beginnings
The Best Bud contest began at the D.C. State Fair in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, September 12, 2015. That was the first year the fair included a cannabis growing contest.1
The timing was no accident. Earlier in 2015 the District had made it legal to possess small amounts of marijuana, and residents could grow their own plants at home.1 One report adds that growing became legal in February 2015, after 70 percent of voters backed legalisation in November 2014.3 The sources do not say who first came up with the contest, or when the fair itself started.
02The story
The first contest was held on the 1,000-square-foot Old City Farm, an urban produce farm on Rhode Island Avenue.3 National Geographic called it America's first state fair marijuana-growing competition.3 WTOP made a similar point, describing it as the first cannabis competition at a state fair.2
Entries were judged on how they looked, smelled and felt. Judges checked whether the stem was sticky and whether it bent or snapped.1 The growing story behind each entry counted too.3
For the second contest, the rules were set out in more detail. Entrants had to be D.C. residents aged 21 or older who grow recreationally, and entries were capped at 100.2 Judges looked at appearance, including how mature the trichomes were, plus smell and touch. Points came off for pests, and trimming, curing and drying mattered.2
One winner is named in the sources: Sam McBee of Northwest D.C., who sent in three entries. The winning strain was Golden Strawberries from Crockett Family Farms, a cross of Kosher Kush and Strawberry Banana.2 That summary comes from a piece announcing the second contest, and it is not clear which year's win it describes. The 2015 reports do not name a winner.13
03Culture
The fair says it wants to show off the District's food, art and farming talent.1 The 2015 day also had a pet parade, yoga, a Best Home Brew contest and a Longest Vegetable contest.3
Let'sGrowDC!, a shop and education centre for urban gardens, sponsored the contest.3 The DC State Fair organised it, with Anna Tauzin as volunteer spokesperson.3 For the second contest, Mark Perry coordinated, and Chris Washburn of hydroponic supplier Let's Grow D.C. spoke about judging.2
The D.C. rules shaped the day. Residents could grow and gift plants but not buy or sell them.3 Judges did not consume the entries, because D.C. law bans cannabis use at public events.2 The National Geographic piece used the contest to argue that urban farming and home growing could help feed a growing city population.3
04Now
A second annual contest was announced in 2016. It was held on a Sunday in Northeast D.C.2 The sources do not give its date or exact venue.
The sources do not say whether the contest ran after 2016, or whether it still exists today.
05Future
The sources say nothing about plans for future editions. What they do show is a contest that grew out of new local rules, ran at least twice, and was meant to bring home growers into a community fair.123
The results, in our data
CannaLib holds 1 results from this cup across 3 years (2015 to 2017), 0 of them matched to a strain in the catalogue.
Editions on record
- 2015 · Washington, DC
Sources
- D.C. State Fair Features Marijuana Growing Contest (NBC Washington)
- DC State Fair to hold second annual cannabis contest (WTOP, 2016)
- The First State Fair Marijuana-Growing Contest Could Boost Urban Farming (National Geographic, The Plate)
Written from the sources above and checked on 2026-11-08. Spot an error? Tell us on the contact page.