First Place Ribbon: Colors, Styles, and Custom Options

In the United States, a first place ribbon is almost always blue, which is where the phrase "blue ribbon" comes from. We make custom award ribbons for fairs, horse shows, science fairs, pet shows, bake-offs, and corporate contests, and the most common question is simple: what color goes with which place? This guide answers that, then walks through ribbon styles and the custom options that make a winner ribbon worth keeping.

What Color Is a First Place Ribbon?

Blue is the standard first place ribbon color in the U.S. Red usually marks second place, and third place is typically white or yellow depending on the event.

That convention is not universal. In the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries, red often marks first place and blue second, so always check the rulebook if your event has international entrants or follows a specific association.

Standard Placing Ribbon Colors

The table below shows the order most U.S. shows and contests follow. Horse shows and county fairs sometimes swap third and fourth, so treat it as a common pattern rather than a rule.

Place	Common U.S. color	Notes
1st	Blue	The classic winner ribbon
2nd	Red	Nearly universal in the U.S.
3rd	White or yellow	Varies by event type
4th	Yellow or white	Swaps with 3rd at many shows
5th	Pink	Common at horse and livestock shows
6th	Green	Common at horse and livestock shows
Champion	Purple, or tricolor rosette	Often a larger rosette
Reserve Champion	Lavender or tricolor rosette	Runner-up to the champion

Blue Ribbon Meaning

A blue ribbon has come to mean "the best of its kind." That is why you see "blue ribbon" on recipes, panels, and products far from any fairground.

When Blue Does Not Mean First

Many 4-H and youth fairs judge with the Danish system, which scores each entry against a standard rather than ranking entries against each other. Under that system, several exhibitors can earn a blue ribbon in the same class.

Montana State University Extension's explanation of the ribbon system lists purple as excellent, blue as exceeding standards, red as meeting minimum standards, and white as below standards. Washington State University's guide to the Danish method of judging describes blue, red, and white tiers along similar lines. If you are ordering for a youth fair, confirm which system your judges use before you pick quantities.

First Place Ribbon Styles

The style of ribbon changes how special the award feels. Here are the options we see most.

Flat Streamer Ribbons

A single printed streamer with a pinked or cut end. These are affordable, easy to hand out in bulk, and perfect for lower placings or large classes.

Rosette Ribbons

A pleated circle of ribbon with a printed center and hanging streamers. Rosettes feel like a real prize and are the go-to style for first place and champion awards. Our rosette ribbons guide explains tiers and sizes.

Pin Rosettes and Badge Ribbons

Smaller rosettes with a pin back that winners can wear right away. They work well for spelling bees, science fairs, and company recognition events. For name and title badges, see our custom badge ribbons guide.

Choosing a Style by Event

Large county fairs: flat ribbons for most placings, rosettes for champions
Horse and dog shows: rosettes for first through sixth, bigger rosettes for champions
School science fairs and spelling bees: pin rosettes or badge ribbons
Corporate contests: rosettes with the company logo on the center button

Custom First Place Ribbon Options

A stock first place ribbon works, but a custom one tells the winner exactly what they won. That detail is what turns a ribbon into a keepsake.

What you can usually customize:

Center button text: event name, year, and "1st Place" or "Winner"
Streamer printing: class name, category, or sponsor
Logo: your fair, school, club, or company logo on the center
Colors: match your placing colors or your brand colors
Size and tiers: more loops and layers for higher placings

Wording That Works

Keep the center text short so it reads at a glance. A good pattern is event name on top, placing in the middle, and year at the bottom.

Examples:

"Clay County Fair | 1st Place | 2027"
"Spring Science Fair | Winner"
"Chili Cook-Off | Blue Ribbon Champion"

Material Matters

Most award ribbons are made from satin or grosgrain. Grosgrain is sturdy and holds print well, which is why our custom grosgrain ribbon guide calls it the workhorse for awards.

How Many First Place Ribbons to Order

Count classes, not events. A fair with 40 classes needs at least 40 first place ribbons, even though it is one fair.

A quick planning checklist:

Number of classes or categories
Placings you award per class (first through third, or first through sixth)
Whether judges might award multiple blues under the Danish system
Champion and reserve champion rosettes for each division
A small buffer for ties and late entries

Organizations like 4-H run fair programs through Cooperative Extension offices, and many clubs buy ribbons for a whole season at once. Ordering once for the full year usually saves time on proofs and approvals.

Presenting a First Place Ribbon Well

How you hand out the award matters almost as much as the ribbon itself. A rushed handoff in a noisy barn feels very different from a named announcement with a photo.

A few presentation habits we see at well-run events:

Sort ribbons by class before judging starts, so volunteers are not digging through boxes while winners wait.
Announce the winner by name and read the class aloud before handing over the first place ribbon.
Pause for a photo. Families will share that picture far more than they will share the results sheet.
Pin rosettes on the exhibit or the winner, not in a pile on the table.
Keep spares near the ring for ties and judging corrections.

For fair boards and extension offices, our guide to fair ribbons covers how judging systems affect ordering and display. A little planning here keeps the ceremony moving and makes every placing feel earned.

When to Order Custom Ribbons

Custom ribbons need artwork approval before production. Fair boards and school committees often need a vote or a sign-off, so give yourself extra time.

Our advice is to send artwork well before your event and keep the approval chain short. You can start with our custom pin rosette ribbons, and see our award ribbons guide for planning every placing, not just first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What color is a first place ribbon?

In the United States, a first place ribbon is blue. Red is second, and third is usually white or yellow depending on the event.

Is first place blue or red?

Blue is first place in the U.S., while red is often first in the United Kingdom and some Commonwealth countries. Check your event's rules if entrants come from different traditions.

What does a purple ribbon mean?

Purple usually marks a champion or top excellence award. In many 4-H Danish system fairs, purple ranks above blue.

Can more than one person get a blue ribbon?

Yes, at events that use the Danish judging system. Each entry is scored against a standard, so several entries in a class can earn blue.

What should a custom winner ribbon say?

Keep it short: the event name, the placing, and the year. Add a logo or sponsor name on the center or streamer if space allows.