Students are invited to enter coal projects in one of the following seven categories:

1. Science

2. Math

3. English-Literature

4. Art

5. Music

6. Technology-Multimedia

7. Social Studies

Students will be judged in their respective grade levels of (K-4th), (5th-8th) or (9th-12th).

These projects are displayed and judged at their school’s local Coal Fair, with selected projects being chosen to be entered in the Regional Coal Fair where cash prizes are awarded to (63) category and (9) grade level over-all winners.

In addition to these (72) prizes the Student Project-of-the-Year Award valued at ($3,000) is awarded to the best over-all project at the Fair.

Over the past twenty-six years, there have been (10,538) projects entered in the Regional Coal Fair where (1,640) of those have received a total of ($269,300) in cash prizes.

During this time there have been (63,900) visitors tour the Fair, which is open for tours Tuesday through Friday of Coal Fair week.