2025 BOONE COUNTY FAIR POLICIES
Superintendents shall have authority to make all decisions within their respective divisions in accordance with the Rules and Regulations. All 4-H/FFA protests must be in writing. Such protests must state plainly the cause of the complaint or appeal, signed and accompanied by a deposit of $100 cash or certified check, which will be forfeited if protest is not sustained and delivered to the Superintendent within 1 hour after the champion is awarded in that class. All decisions by the Protest Committee are subject to final review by the 4-H Council.
The respective superintendent has the authority to make appropriate decisions based on the 4-H Exhibitor’s Guide. When needed, the policy committee of at least three (3) but not to exceed six (6) available 4-H Council Members shall be formed to serve as a protest review group. They will meet when needed to act on concerns.
A. All protests must be submitted in writing and signed.
B. The written protest must be submitted to the Division Superintendent and MUST include:
1) Names of persons involved (If names aren’t provided, case is dismissed)
2) Proof (Example would be pictures)
3) Nature of concerns
4) Situation and documentation
5) Recommendations for correction
6) Specific action, rule, etc., in question
7) Additional persons committee may contact for further clarification
8) Procedures and/or steps carried out by person involved prior to submission of the protest to the Division Superintendent
C. The committee will review the written protest. They may discuss the situation with appropriate people and Division Superintendent. The recommendations will be followed and communicated both verbally and in written form to the individual or individuals affected.
D. In case of protest, the exhibitor MAY OR MAY NOT be allowed to show, but results of showing will be subject to change based on the outcome of the protest process. This allows for smooth operation of the show and facilitates appropriate processing.
E. The 4-H Council reserves the right to withhold premium and/or award. The exhibitor may be excluded from the show if action warrants.
F. Protests related to judges’ decisions, placings, or other evaluations will not be accepted.
Use or possession of alcoholic beverages or drugs (except for medical purposes) by any exhibitor who is participating in the Boone County Fair will result in immediate disqualification of that exhibitor’s entries.
4-H exhibits at the Boone County Fair are entered and displayed at the risk of the 4-H member. Every article or animal upon the grounds shall be under the control of the Fair Board and the 4-H Council during the fair. While every precaution will be taken for the safe keeping of the same, the Board and Council will in no way be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur.
Only one item is entered per entry number unless stated otherwise in the exhibitor’s guide. Please pre-enter everything you wish to take to the fair as it helps to avoid confusion at fair time. Don’t forget to pre-enter activities that you wish to participate in, such as showmanship, etc.
STATE FAIR ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXHIBITORS - An exhibitor must be enrolled in 4-H by June 15 of the current year in the county which he/she represents. In classes where presence of the 4-H member is required for judging purposes, such as animal exhibits, judging contests, presentations, and fashion show, a 4-H member must be 8 before January 1 of the current year or become 9 years of age during the current year. The last year of eligibility is the calendar year the member becomes 19. For classes where presence of the 4-H member is not required, the exhibitor must become 9 years of age during the current year, therefore, they must be 8 before January 1 of the current year. All static exhibits must have received a purple ribbon at the county fair to advance to the State Fair.
Livestock Premium Sale:
The market animal or breeding animal of the following classes:
Market Heifer Market Steer NEW FOR 2025 - 1st year Bucket Calf (4-H age 8-18)
Market Ewe Market Wether Market Gilt Market Barrow
Market Goat Breeding Heifer Breeding Ewe Breeding Gilt Breeding Meat Goat Breeding Dairy Goat Dairy Animal Market Broiler Pen of 3 Market Turkey Pen of 2
will be sold through the livestock premium sale and the champion will set the ceiling bid for the sale of that class of animal. Each livestock exhibitor is allowed to sell TWO (2) animals for the special premium. In the event that an exhibitor has more than two (2) grand champions and sells the two (2) of their choice, then the reserve champion animal of the classes listed above has to sell through the livestock premium sale and will be used to set the ceiling bid for its appropriate class.
The highest bid for red, blue, and purple ribbon livestock, including the reserve champion, cannot exceed the premium bid for the champion.
First-year bucket calves exhibited by 4-H members age 8-18 before January 1 of the current year are eligible for the premium sale.
Feeder calves are not eligible for the premium sale.
2025 Sale Order: Market Beef, Breeding Beef, Market Goat, Breeding Goat, Dairy Goat, Market Swine, Breeding Swine, Market Sheep, Breeding Sheep, Market Broiler Pen of Three (3), Market Turkey Pen of Two (2), Dairy Animal
The livestock will be sold for a premium bid only. With the premium bid procedure, the exhibitor retains ownership of the beef, meat goat, hog, lamb, broiler, and turkey.
Auction will follow the regular bidding procedures of the auctioneer until the ceiling price is reached or there are no more bids.
Exhibitors, parents and other individuals who interfere with any aspect of the livestock auction before, during or after, will forfeit premiums, awards and auction proceeds. This includes harassment of buyers involved with the livestock auction.
Exhibitors of registered animals must present registration certificates to the show superintendent for inspection to compete in the purebred classes.
Items entered at the fair must be completed during the current project year and not previously entered.
Age requirement: A 4-H/FFA member must have reached his or her 8th birthday but have not passed his or her 19th birthday before January 1 of the current calendar year.
Exhibitors failing to comply with any and all rules in this Exhibitor’s Guide are subject to premium cancellation, and disqualification from current and future participation in the Boone County Fair.
► Following a determination that an exhibitor has been disqualified and/or a premium has been withheld from the exhibitor for a rules infraction, that exhibitor shall receive written notification of the determination to include an explanation of the reasons for the determination and any resulting disciplinary action.
► If the exhibitor believes additional information may warrant re-examination of the decision, he or she may submit a request for reconsideration. The request for reconsideration shall be in writing, and must include a detailed explanation of why the decision should be reviewed and, where appropriate, documentation supporting the explanation. All reconsideration requests must be received by the Boone County Extension Office, 2624 Fairgrounds Rd, Albion NE 68620 within 10 days of the exhibitor’s receipt of the notification of disqualification or withholding of premiums. Decisions regarding reconsideration requests will be at the sole discretion of the Boone County 4-H Council Executive Committee and shall be final. The exhibitor will be promptly notified in writing of the Executive Committee’s final determination.