Fair and Livestock Show Award Tumblers

Ribbons and plaques are nice, but a lot of them end up in a box. When a kid works all year raising an animal and walks out of the show ring with a win, it is good to give them something they will see every day.

That is why we like making award tumblers. Here is a look at a set we engraved for the Tulelake Butte Valley Fair, and some ideas if you are planning awards for your own fair, show or event.

The Tulelake Butte Valley Fair 2025 award tumblers

For the Tulelake Butte Valley Fair 2025, we engraved Reserve Grand Champion award tumblers. They were all black, and each one carried the same basic layout:

The fair name and the year, 2025
An animal silhouette for that class
The award: Reserve Grand Champion
The class the exhibitor won

The classes covered junior showmanship in beef, sheep, swine, goat and rabbit. A second set covered pen of rabbits, market steer, market swine, market lamb and market goat.

Keeping the layout the same across the whole set made them look like a matched set of awards, while the animal and the class made each one belong to a specific winner.

Tulelake Butte Valley Fair 2025 Reserve Grand Champion market animal award tumblers

The photo above shows that second set, with the pen of rabbits and market animal classes. The laser removes the black powder coat and shows the stainless steel underneath, so the text and silhouettes stand out bright against the black.

Why a tumbler makes a good award

We think awards should get used. A few reasons a tumbler works well:

It goes to the barn. Kids who show animals are up early and out late. A stainless steel tumbler can ride along for coffee, cocoa or water during chores.
It lasts. The engraving is part of the cup. It is not a sticker or print that peels or fades off.
People see it. A tumbler on the truck dash or the kitchen counter keeps reminding the winner, and everyone around them, of what they earned.
It fits the budget. Our tumblers start at $25, and we offer 16 oz and 20 oz sizes.

Our tumblers and water bottles are stainless steel with a powder coat. We recommend hand washing them and skipping abrasive scrubbers, which is easy advice to pass along to winners.

Ideas for your fair, show or club

Fairs are a natural fit, but the same idea works for lots of events where someone takes home a prize. A few ideas:

County fair boards for grand champion and reserve awards across every species.
Livestock shows for showmanship and market classes.
4-H clubs and FFA chapters for year-end awards, officer gifts or record book winners.
Rodeos for event winners and all-around awards.
Car shows for best in show and class winners.
Golf tournaments for closest to the pin, longest drive and the winning team.

You can also add a winner’s name, or the name of a sponsor, if you want each one to be even more personal.

How to order award tumblers

Award orders take a little planning because every piece is different. Here is how it works:

Make your list. Write out every class and placing you need an award for, exactly as you want it to read. Double-check the spelling.
Send your logo. If your fair, club or event has a logo, send the clearest, highest-resolution version you have. Simple one-color logos engrave best.
Pick your products. Tumblers, water bottles or a mix. Black is our standard color; other colors can be special-ordered, so ask us.
Request a quote. Fill out the no-obligation form on our corporate and bulk orders page and tell us what you have in mind.

The biggest tip we can give is to plan ahead. Get your list together well before fair season starts, so there is time to review the layout and make changes before anything is engraved.

Frequently asked questions

Can every tumbler in the set say something different? Yes. That is how the Tulelake set was done: same fair name and layout, with a different animal and class on each tumbler.

Do you engrave water bottles for awards too? Yes. Our water bottles come in 20 oz and 32 oz and can be engraved the same way. Ask about them when you request a quote.

How far ahead should we order? It depends on the size of the order, so ask us. Reaching out well before your event gives everyone time to get the details right.

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