Noise, movement and household items: What are they judging?

What are they judging?
What are they judging?
Nikki Tundel | MPR News

For some, the Minnesota State Fair is all about competition. Every day this week, All Things Considered is asking: "What's being judged?"

Here are a few hints from the superintendent for this particular competition, Ron Kelsey.

Can you figure it out?

https://soundcloud.com/mprnews/judging1

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So. Judges ask specific questions of each entry: Does it look like a person? Does it make noise? Does it move? What sets it apart?

What are they judging?
One question: Does it have a humanlike look?
Nikki Tundel | MPR News

But does any of that help you figure out what it is?

How about this:

https://soundcloud.com/mprnews/judging2

It involves crops — and, as it turns out, kitchen implements, plastic caps from soda bottles and things like the head of a broom.

But there's one key item you don't want to see in the competition:

https://soundcloud.com/mprnews/what-are-they-judging-part-three-aug-29-2016

Haven't figured it out yet?

Click the gallery below to see for yourself.

Correction (Aug. 29., 2016): A previous version of this story misidentified the winner of a scarecrow contest. This post has been updated.