After 120 Hours in Stardew Valley, Here’s My First Place Grange Display Fair Strategy

After so many in-game hours, countless harvests, and more grange displays than I can count, I’ve finally perfected my strategy for winning first place at the Stardew Valley Fair. The annual fall event may seem like a casual community gathering, but behind its cheerful booths and spinning wheels lies one of the most quietly competitive moments in the game. Every farmer in Pelican Town wants that 1,000-star-token victory, and I’m no exception. The secret? Stop treating the grange like a numbers game and start treating it like a mini-game of item representation.

Over time, I’ve discovered that winning isn’t merely about presenting your best crops or endlessly scrolling through guides and doing math. It’s about balance, variety, and a little bit of foresight. The perfect grange display tells the story of your year on the farm: your harvests, your mining hauls, your culinary triumphs. From choosing what to save months in advance to deciding which single item will tip your score over the edge, here’s how I always take home first place at the Stardew Valley Fair.

Understanding the Point Breakdown for the Stardew Valley Fair Grange Display

I know I just said that you shouldn’t worry about the math, but having a basic understanding of how the points work will help guide you through what your grange should look like. Like the best farms in Stardew Valley, there is a science behind the cozy gameplay. But unlike running your farm like the military, getting gold at the Stardew Valley Fair is not too hard. A combination of item quality, sell price, and category diversity determines a player’s grange’s final score. To win first place, a player must earn 90 points.

• Base Points: All players will receive 14 points automatically for participating.
• Number of Items: Players can submit a total of 9 items to the grange. It is best to fill out all the grange slots for maximum points. Granges with fewer than 5 items will have points deducted from their final score.
• Categories: Having diversity at the Stardew Valley Fair grange is a good way to rack up points. There are eight categories of items to keep in mind: Fruits, Animal Products, Cooked Goods (you don’t have to cook them yourself), Fish, Forage, Artisan Goods, Minerals, and Vegetables. Players earn 5 points for every category represented, up to 30.
• Item Price: Generally speaking, the more expensive an item goes for, the more points it can rack up at the grange display contest. This is usually a combo stat tied with item quality below.
• Item Quality: Players who do not have expensive items at hand can compensate with higher-quality items. The total maximum of points a player can earn from an expensive, Iridium quality item is 8, so don’t stress if an item in the grange does not meet both criteria.

Warning: You Can Get Disqualified

If you’re a player who’s only looking for quick Star Tokens, the second most profitable route is actually through disqualification. The trick is placing Mayor Lewis’ Purple Shorts on the display. He will hand you 750 Star Tokens as hush money, but it will disqualify you from participating in the grange, leaving you with a total of zero possible points. It’s a hilarious moment that everyone should probably see at least once. However, I would not recommend it during Year One or in calmer playthroughs. Personally, I reloaded my save—out of secondhand embarrassment.

How I Always Win First Place at the Stardew Valley Fair Grange Display

Mine Something, Stash Something

My motto with minerals has always been simple: the first of any kind goes to Gunther, but the second stays with you. The Stardew Valley Fair’s grange display rewards variety and value, and a well-chosen mineral can give you an easy edge. If you strike gold—or more literally, diamond—deep in the mines, resist the urge to donate it right away. Keep it tucked safely in a chest until after the fair. A single diamond, prismatic shard, or helvite can push your score higher than most regular crops. And once the judging’s over, Gunther will still be happy to take it off your hands.

Goats and Ducks Are Your Best Friends

Having animals on your Stardew Valley farm is crucial for multiple income streams. But since most farms start off small, cows and chickens become dependable animals. However, players who don’t invest in a Big Barn or Big Coop are missing out on some of the easiest points to earn during the Stardew Valley Fair.

When ducks and goats mature, they produce milk and eggs. With Goat Milk and Duck Eggs, you can craft two amazing processed goods: Duck Mayonnaise and Goat Cheese. Duck Mayonnaise will always give players at least 5 points, while Goat Cheese at its normal quality will give a whopping 6 points. Even though they can be a steep investment during the early hours of the game, it’s always a good idea to have at least one of each animal on your farm.

Save Produce from Spring, Summer, and Fall

During the Spring, it may be an instinct to sell everything you find and harvest. In the Summer, you’re likely to depend less on Forage and more on experimenting with different crops. By the time Fall comes, you’ll likely have the hang of your farm’s rhythm. But a cardinal sin of playing Stardew Valley is forgetting to save Forage, Fruit, and Vegetables throughout the seasons.

If you reap a gold star Fruit or Vegetable, hold onto it. If you harvest many, save the highest quality one. No matter how in need of gold in Stardew Valley you are, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Besides, with all the surplus you’ll likely accumulate throughout the seasons in preparation for the grange, your payday will be hefty on the day of the Stardew Valley Fair.

Know Where to Fish

I don’t know about your Stardew Valley habits, but I have a really bad one: I forget about fishing. It’s the main reason why many players, myself included, struggle to complete the Community Center’s bundles. Unfortunately, fish are an important part of a perfect grange. If you’re in a short pinch and need a high-quality fish, your best chance will be to fish at the lake. Another good option will depend on whether you’ve reached the volcano levels in the mines. If you have, you can catch some pretty expensive fish that can make up for lower-quality catches.

Stardew Valley

Released

February 26, 2016

ESRB

E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)

Developer(s)

ConcernedApe

Publisher(s)

ConcernedApe