LODI — San Joaquin County's display at the California State Fair, which focused on its strong opposition to the proposed peripheral canal that would divert more Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water to Southern California, received two awards at Cal Expo.

The county won the state fair's marketing award for doing what judges considered the best job of using material native to the county and delivered its message better than anyone else. San Joaquin and Sacramento counties were among 12 to earn a gold medal.

The two counties scored 91 points out of a possible 100. Judging was based on craftsmanship, animation, marketing and other categories.

San Joaquin County's award-winning exhibit was prepared by Richard Bray, a professional builder, at the direction of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation. The Board of Supervisors gave the Farm Bureau responsibility for constructing the county's display for the State Fair.

Bruce Blodgett, the San Joaquin Farm Bureau's executive director, said he was glad to spread the message to the 20,000 to 30,000 people expected to walk past the county exhibit each day.

"It gives us a chance to inform them," Blodgett said. "We took a little different approach from the other counties."

The State Fair will run through Aug. 1 from noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Cal Expo is located at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento. For more information, call 916-263-3247 or toll-free at 877-225-3876. You may also e-mail info@calexpo.com.