Fresh Wood 2027 Student Competition

Fresh Wood is an industry-sponsored competition for woodworking students who are considering a career in the wood and related industries. The contest is open to students in the United States. There is no entry fee.

The Fresh Wood Competition will culminate at the AWFS®Fair, a live, in-person industry trade show, July 13-15, 2027 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Las Vegas, Nevada, USA). Finalist attendance at the AWFS®Fair is not required but is strongly encouraged. AWFS®Fair Show Management reserves the right to make changes and adjustments to the Fresh Wood Competition at any point throughout the process.

Judging

Judging is done by panel of professionals representing various sectors of the industry. All entries are reviewed by the judges prior to the AWFS®Fair to determine the finalists to be exhibited at the show. Judges reserve the right to reassign an entry to a different category if they deem it appropriate.

The Judging Process

1. Judges receive anonymous online submissions consisting of images and the students' responses to the online questions.
2. Judges score projects on a scale of 1-5 for each of the 5 criteria listed below.
3. Scores are tallied and projects with the highest scores within their category are selected as finalists.
4. Finalist projects are judged in person at the AWFS®Fair on a scale of 1-5 for the criteria below.
5. Scores are tallied and projects with the highest scores within their category may be selected as winners as agreed upon by the judging panel.

Judging criteria

1. Design innovation on original pieces; or quality of execution of a known style or variation.
2. Craftsmanship of the piece including construction quality, material choice and use, detailing, sanding quality, finishing quality.
3. Functionality, stability, comfort, and if applicable manufacturability and marketability.
4. Construction techniques, appropriateness of the technique, joinery, lamination veneering, or upholstery.
5. Aesthetics, scale, proportion, balance, rhythm, emphasis and unity.

One additional point will be given during final judging if the Presentation Board is completed following the instructions correctly. One point can make the difference for a win!

Awards

High school and post-secondary school entries are judged and awarded separately.

• First Place: $1,000
• Second Place: $500
• Honorable Mention (Given at the discretion of the judges): $250
• Best of Show (Student receives the Best of Show trophy): $1,000
• People's Choice: $750

First and Second Place given in every category, Honorable Mention given at judges' discretion.

Key Competition Dates

• April 15, 2027: Entry Application Deadline
• April 26, 2027: Finalists notified
• May 27, 2027: Deadline for coordinating shipping to Las Vegas Convention Center
• July 10, 2027: Day to personally deliver furniture to Las Vegas Convention Center
• July 12, 2027: Final on-site judging
• July 13-15, 2027: AWFS®Fair; Finalists' projects on display during the Fair, winners selected and announced

Judges receive anonymous online submissions consisting of images and the students' responses to the online questions. Judges score projects on a scale of 1-5 for each of the 5 criteria. Scores are tallied and projects with the highest scores within their category are selected as finalists. Finalist projects are judged in person at the AWFS Fair on a scale of 1-5 for the same criteria, scores are tallied and projects with the highest scores within their category may be selected as winners as agreed upon by the judging panel.