Reprinted from the Nebraska State Fair Rules
Large and Small Animal Divisions
IAFE (International Association of Fairs and Expositions)
National Code of Show Ring Ethics
Exhibitors of animals at livestock shows shall at all times deport (conduct) themselves with honesty and good sportsmanship. Their conduct in this competitive environment shall always reflect the highest standards of honor and dignity to promote the advancement of agricultural education. This code applies to junior as well as open class exhibitors who compete in structured classes of competition. This code applies to all livestock offered in any event at a livestock show. In addition to the “IAFE National Code of Show Ring Ethics,” fairs and livestock shows may have rules and regulations which they impose on the local, county, state, provincial and national levels.
All youth leaders working with junior exhibitors are under an affirmative responsibility to do more than avoid improper conduct or questionable acts. Their moral values must be so certain and positive that those younger and more pliable will be influenced by their fine example. Owners, exhibitors, fitters, trainers and absolutely responsible persons who violate the code of ethics will forfeit premiums, awards and auction proceeds and shall be prohibited from future exhibition in accordance with the rules adopted by the respective fairs and Livestock shows. Exhibitors who violate this code of ethics demean the integrity of all livestock exhibitors and should be prohibited from competition at all livestock shows in the United States and Canada.
The following is a list of guidelines for all exhibitors and all livestock in competitive events:
1. All exhibitors must present, upon request of fair and livestock show officials, proof of ownership, length of ownership and age of all animals entered. Misrepresentation of ownership, age or any facts relating thereto is prohibited.
2. Owners, exhibitors, fitters, trainers or absolutely responsible persons shall provide animal health certificates from licensed veterinarians upon request by fair or livestock show officials. (Health Certificates are not required for Cedar County Fair.)
3. Junior exhibitors are expected to care for and groom their animals while at fairs or livestock shows.
4. Animals shall be presented to show events where they will enter the food chain free of volatile drug residues. The act of entering an animal in a livestock show is the giving of consent by the owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer and/or absolutely responsible person for show management to obtain any specimens of urine, saliva, blood or other substances from the animal to be used in testing. Animals not entered in an event which culminates with the animal entering the food chain shall not be administered drugs other than in accordance with applicable federal, state and provincial statutes, regulations and rules. Livestock shall not be exhibited if the drugs administered in accordance with federal, state and provincial statutes, regulations and rules affect the animal’s performance or appearance at the event. If the laboratory report on the analysis of saliva, urine, blood or other sample taken from livestock indicates the presence of forbidden drugs or medication, this shall be prima facie evidence such substance has been administered to the animal either internally or externally. It is presumed that the sample of urine, salvia, blood or other substance tested by the laboratory to which it is sent is the one taken from the animal in question, its integrity is preserved and all procedures of said collection and preservation, transfer to the laboratory and analysis of the sample are correct and accurate and the report received from the laboratory pertains to the sample taken from the animal in question and correctly reflects the condition of the animal at the time the sample was taken, with the burden on the owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer or absolutely responsible person to prove otherwise.
At any time after an animal arrives on the fair or livestock show premises, all treatments involving the use of drugs and/or medications for the sole purpose of protecting the health of the animal shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian.
5. Any surgical procedure of injection of any foreign substance or drug or the external application of any substance (irritant, counterirritant or similar substance) which could affect the animal’s performance or alter its natural contour, confirmation or appearance, except external applications of substances to the hoofs or horns of animals which affect appearance only and except for surgical procedures performed by a duly licensed veterinarian for the sole purpose of protecting the health of the animal, is prohibited.
6. The use of showing and/or handling practices of devices such as striking animals to cause swelling, using electrical contrivance or other similar practices are not acceptable and are prohibited.
7. Direct criticism or interference with the judge, fair or livestock show management, other exhibitors, breed representative or show officials before, during, or after the competitive event is prohibited. In the furtherance of their official duty, all judges, fair and livestock show management or other show officials shall be treated with courtesy, cooperation and respect and no person shall direct abusive or threatening conduct toward them.
8. No owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer or absolutely responsible person shall conspire with another person or persons to intentionally violate this code of ethics or knowingly contribute or cooperate with another person or persons either by affirmative action or inaction to violate this code of ethics. Violation of this rule shall subject such individual to disciplinary action.
9. The application of this code of ethics provides for absolute responsibility for an animal’s condition by an owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer or participant whether or not he or she was actually instrumental in or had actual knowledge of the treatment of the animal in contravention of this code of ethics.
10. The act of entering an animal is the giving of consent by the owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or absolutely responsible person to have disciplinary action taken by the fair or livestock show for violation of this Code of Show Ring Ethics and any other rules of competition of the fair or livestock show without recourse against the fair or livestock show. The act of entering an animal is the giving of consent that any proceedings or disciplinary action taken by the fair or livestock show may be published with the name of the violator or violators in any publication of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions, including Fairs and Expositions and any special notices to members.
11. The act of entering of an animal in a fair or livestock show is the giving of verification by the owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or absolutely responsible person that he or she has read the IAFE National Code of Show Rings Ethics and understands the consequences of and penalties provided for actions prohibited by the code. It is further a consent that any action which contravenes these rules and is also in violation of federal, state or provincial statutes, regulations or rules may be released to appropriate law enforcement authorities with jurisdiction over such infractions.
General Animal Requirements for
Identification, Entry, Ownership & Health
A. General Animal Identification – All animals need to be identified with an identification number and pre-entry form due in the Extension Office by June 15. Animals can be owned as a family unit (brothers/sisters) provided the animals are listed on each pre-entry form. See Ownership division below and see specific animal divisions for identifying requirements. Only those animals identified on the Pre-entry form will be allowed to exhibit at the County Fair and Nebraska State Fair. All market and breeding livestock (beef, feeder calf, swine, sheep, and goats) must be certified with a DNA sample and required tags to be eligible for State Fair and Ak-Sar-Ben. All animals have additional requirements for State Fair. See Nebraska State Fairbook.
B. Pre-Entry – All animal exhibits to be entered at County Fair and Pre-Fair Shows must be pre-entered on a Livestock/ID Entry Form available at the Extension Office due by June 15 to the Extension Office
C. Ownership of Animals – Beef, sheep, dairy cattle, goat, horse, swine, rabbit, poultry, dog, cat or other small animal project animals may be owned:
1. Solely by the 4-H exhibitor
2. Partnership by the 4-H exhibitor and other members of his/her immediate family. Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers and sisters and youth in care of the head of the household.
3. Horses, registered dairy heifers, dairy goats, sheep and bucket calves may also be owned by someone outside of the immediate family, provided the owner signs the Identification/Ownership Affidavit bottom giving permission for use of the animal. Also, the exhibitor must manage feeding, grooming, exercising, training, and stall management and have use of the animal as a project animal at least 75% of the time during the project year.
D. General Health Requirements for All Animals
1. Only animals not showing signs of infectious or contagious diseases will be allowed to show. Under no circumstances may animals under quarantine be exhibited.
2. Any animal found to be infected with an infectious, contagious, or otherwise transmissible disease or is suspected of being so affected or exposed shall be removed immediately to a place of quarantine as ordered and directed by an official veterinarian or his authorized agent.
3. Policy on Ringworm, Warts, AND Abscesses - A veterinarian will make the final call on any of the following situations.
a. Animals that have active ringworm, visible warts or abscesses, will not be allowed to remain on the premises and be exhibited.
b. The inspecting veterinarian may judge the ringworm to be inactive if the lesion is not encrusted and hair has begun regrowth in the area.
c. Animals with warts that are visible by a hands-off inspection will not be allowed to remain on the premises and be exhibited.
d. Animals that have visible abscesses will not be allowed to remain on the premises and be exhibited.
e. Sheep that have active club lamb fungus as determined by the inspecting veterinarian will not be allowed to remain on the premises and to be exhibited.
E. Large Animal Health Requirements – Nebraska Origin
1. Beef and Dairy Cattle – See Policy on Ringworm, Warts and Abscesses above. No Tuberculosis or Brucellosis tests are required to exhibit.
2. Sheep and Goats – See Policy on Ringworm, Warts and Abscesses above. Under no circumstances may sheep and goats be exhibited which originate from scrapie-source flocks or scrapie-infected flocks.
3. Swine – All Swine shall originate directly from any herd not under quarantine for pseudorabies and;
a. A stage IV or V county; or
b. A pseudorabies qualified herd; or
c. Be individually tested and classified negative for pseudorabies within 30 days prior to exhibition.
4. Horses – No coggins testing required.
5. Poultry – No testing requirements.
General Livestock Rules and Regulations
A. Eligibility of Exhibitors – See General Rules, page 1 for eligibility requirements of exhibitors.
B. Responsibility for Entry – The responsibility for making proper entry rests with the 4-H or FFA member, not the leader. The exhibitors of all animals shall conduct themselves with honesty, good sportsmanship and support all rules and regulations of the Nebraska 4-H program and the County Fair.
C. Ownership of Animals – All animals must be owned by the exhibitor who entered it. Ownership of beef, dairy cattle, dairy goats, horse, meat goats, sheep, swine, poultry, rabbits, cats, companion animals, dogs and pets must be certified where required on the appropriate forms in the Extension Office by June 15. Those planning to participate at State Fair need to register their animals on-line.
D. Eligibility, Control and Removal of Animals – Any 4-H project animal that has been offered for auction, where the intent of the auction is change of ownership, is ineligible for the 4-H livestock classes. A project animal that has been through a “premium only” auction is eligible to be exhibited at the Nebraska State Fair, provided it and its exhibitor meet all other ownership and eligibility requirements. 4-H members may not enter the same animal in both the 4-H show and the Open Class Show. Unruly or questionable animals may be declared ineligible to show and dismissed from the premises by appropriate authority. An animal that becomes wild and uncontrollable or sick during the show may be declared ineligible and dismissed by the appropriate authority. No animals will be permitted to run at large on the fairgrounds during the fair. Cedar County 4-H encourages active participation and encourages youth to experience the full impact of showing animals at the Cedar County Fair.
As we do not want to discourage participation, we do want all youth to have the same experience in exhibiting their animals. That experience includes much more than showing the animals. It also includes the responsibility of caring for their animals by feeding, watering, grooming, cleaning pen/cages, not only on show day but during the ENTIRE fair. Therefore, no animal may leave the fairgrounds to be returned at a later time or switched with another animal.
We do understand that there are circumstances beyond your control and/or conflicts that occur. If a 4-Hers animal is unable to be present when required or will be removed before the scheduled release time, the 4-H exhibitor MUST submit in writing a letter explaining his/her circumstance and request permission for such an exemption. This letter must be presented to the Cedar County 4-H Council prior to their July meeting. By submitting this letter, 4-Hers are aware that they WILL NOT be eligible for Livestock Premium Recognition (if applicable), premiums on the animal(s) being removed, or eligible for Round Robin.
Due to emergencies that arise at the fair regarding a 4-Hers animal, there is an Emergency 4-H Animal Removal Form in the back of the fairbook. This form needs to be filled out with the proper signatures and handed directly to a Nebraska Extension staff member in Cedar County. Removal of animals without proper documentation will result in the forfeiture of all premium monies including premium recognition monies.
E. Animal Testing and Examination – Any animal entered in 4-H classes is subject to any type of testing at the discretion of either the superintendent or the official show veterinarian. If the results of testing indicate the possible use of compounds or drugs not approved for use in that species by FDA or compounds or drugs used outside the specified withdrawal requirements of FDA, these animals will be declared ineligible for competition and awards. In the case of market animals, show management will determine the appropriate disposal of the animals. An animal that is tampered with to change appearance or weight may be declared ineligible by the division superintendent.
F. Youth for the Quality are of Animals (formerly called Livestock Quality Assurance) – All exhibitors in beef (breeding, bucket calf, feeder calf, and market), dairy cattle, goats (dairy, meat, pygmy), sheep (breeding, market), swine, poultry and rabbits must have received Quality Assurance training or testing through a UNL Extension program prior to exhibiting at the County Fair. Training must be completed prior to the June 15 pre-entry deadline date. County Extension Staff will certify completion of training.
G. Designated Showman – All animals must be shown before the judge by the member. Only animals exhibited by their owners will receive ribbons or prizes unless the owners are excused by the division superintendent. Family partnership project will normally be shown by the designated member except when an exhibitor has more than one animal in a class. At weigh-in on entry day, each 4-H member of a family holding their animals in joint ownership must designate who is going to show each animal.
H. Substitute Showman – An animal must be shown before the judge by the 4-H member who entered it unless the exhibitor is excused by the division superintendent because of serious illness, disability due to an injury (e.g. broken arm or leg) or conflict with other livestock classes in a 4-H show. An exhibitor who has more than one animal in a class need not secure approval for another 4-H member, eligible to exhibit livestock, to show the additional animal in the class. Substitute showman must be a 4-H member who is capable of assisting with showing a specific animal species. The substitute does not have to be enrolled in that specific project but should be knowledgeable of it. The substitute is required to check in with the show superintendent and adhere to all dress code and other showmanship rules.
I. Animal Substitutions – Within the same class or division, substituting a different animal for a pre-entered/identified animal, providing the substitute meets all ownership and eligibility rules is acceptable. Please communicate substitutions with the Extension Office. Substitutions between divisions is not allowed (i.e. a market lamb cannot be substituted for a breeding sheep entry.)
J. Grooming of Livstock
1. Caring for and grooming the animals are primarily the responsibility of the 4-H member; however, immediate family members, 4-H club leaders and other 4-H members can help. FFA chapter advisor and FFA members can also assist. Professional help will not be allowed. The 4-H member must be present for all grooming unless he or she is in the show ring.
2. Swine must be shown without hairdressing compounds. This includes oil, powder or any other coat dressing compound considered objectionable by the packer. Only unadulterated water is permitted. Pigs found in violation will be disqualified from the live show. They will also be subject to all price discounts imposed by the packer for such compounds.
3. Exhibitors shall not add materials, natural or synthetic, which extend body shapes beyond normal limits.
4. Upon violation of above rules, the exhibitor’s animal involved may be lowered one or two ribbon placing(s) or may be disqualified from the show.
5. The State Fair 4-H and FFA Beef Shows are no-fit or Blow and Show. Cedar County will remain the same as in the past. Fitting is allowed but not required.
K. Hay, Grain, or Bedding – Will not be permitted on the grounds for sale to exhibitors. Feed and bedding must be furnished by exhibitors at their own expense. All stalls must use approved bedding. The Ag Society reserves the right to exclude any animal(s) from competition if this rule is not observed by the exhibitor.
L. Equipment – Livestock superintendents have the authority to dictate where blocking chutes, generators, etc. are to be located.
M. State Fire Marshall – The use of flammable and combustible grooming sprays inside the barns is strictly forbidden. These types of materials must be used outside the building only.
N. Dress Code – All exhibitors in the 4-H animal shows and 4-H Premium Recognition are required to wear a white shirt (or blouse) with the official 4-H chevron attached or the white or green 4-H T-shirt. Dark blue jeans are preferred. Dark blue jeans or white pants are allowed for dairy and dairy goat exhibitors. Shoes or boots providing adequate protection and comfort for the exhibitor are preferred. Hard soled shoes or boots are required in the beef division. No hats, caps or other types of headgear are to be worn in the show ring. 4-H club/county and state fair shirts are not considered appropriate. FFA shirts will be allowed for those exhibitors participating as a FFA member. Exhibitor numbers will be assigned to all exhibitors and should be worn in the ring. Horse exhibitors will comply with the dress code contained in 4-H 373, 4-H Horse Show and Judging Guide.
O. Arrival Deadline – Arrival and entry deadlines for all animals are listed in the schedule of events. Superintendents may make exceptions for certain situations provided arrangements are made in advance and approved by the overall Livestock Superintendent.
P FFA Memeber Eligibility – FFA members are considered 4-H members and will adhere to all 4-H rules and regulations.
Q. 4-H Premium Recognition – 4-H market livestock will have to be shown at the fair to be eligible for the 4-H Premium Recognition. Eligible livestock include beef, bucket calf, horse, dairy, goats, sheep, swine, rabbits and poultry. Appropriate 4-H show attire or FFA show attire must be worn for the 4-H Premium Recognition Program on Sunday. Exhibitors must be present to collect a premium. For more information see General Rules, Page 7, Section D. All premiums solicited from donors will be used for the current year premium which will be pooled and divided equally among participating 4-H and FFA members. Thank you cards will be completed and turned into the Extension Office to receive their premium money. They must participate in Showmanship
R. Fair Clean-Up: Daily and at Close of Fair – Exhibitors failing to clean their stalls, alleys and assigned area each day of the fair and at the close of the fair may be asked to forfeit their premium money.
S. If intending to show at Nebraska State Fair, please see the Nebraska State Fair rules, regulations, and deadlines.