Nance County Fair General Rules

NANCE COUNTY FAIR GENERAL RULES

1. This Junior Fair is open to all Nance County 4-H members or FFA chapters.
2. To be eligible for Junior Fair premiums, the 4-H members must have reached his or her 8^th birthday but not have passed his or her 19^th birthday before January 1 of the current calendar year.
3. To be eligible for the Clover Kids program, the members must turn 5-7 years of age before the current calendar year. Project areas are limited to Department Clover Kids. Participation ribbons ONLY will be awarded.

4. All entries: 4-H, FFA, Clover Kids–will be pre-entered by Monday, July 6. Exhibitors must have completed the Nance County Fair Livestock Entry Form that is DUE in the Extension Office no later than Monday, July 6. A late fee of $5.00 per person per day will be assessed after that dead line but entries will not be accepted after Wednesday, July 8.

   All horse entries are due into the office by June 15.

5. Only one item is entered per entry number unless stated otherwise in the premium list.

6. All 4-H members (excluding Clover Kids) are eligible for state fair except in classes where presence is required for judging purposes such as animal exhibits, judging contests, presentations, and fashion revue; a 4-H’er must have reached his or her 9^h birthday before January 1. The last year of

   eligibility is the calendar year that the member becomes 19.

7. State Fair Premier 4-H Science Award -

Objective: Recognize 4-H youth static exhibits incorporating or demonstrating concepts from the areas of 4-H Science (science, technology, engineering, or applied math). Exhibits in all curriculum areas will be considered for the award.

Exhibit Entry: Youth will identify one exhibit to be considered for the Premier 4-H Science Award. The Premier 4-H Science Award Application must be submitted along with a photograph of the exhibit to the county extension office by the county’s entry deadline. Only one exhibit per youth will be eligible for the Premier 4-H Science Award.

8. Items entered at the fair must be completed during the current project year, and should not have been made at school, with the exception of school enrichment projects. Exhibits made in the home economics or ag classroom are not eligible in 4-H competition unless the project is listed as a specific enrichment project.

9. Ribbon Awards - The exhibits will be judged according to research-based standards that indicate

   level of performance or quality of work. Purple ribbons designate an exhibit of superior quality that has met and exceeded all of the standards. Blue ribbons denote an above average exhibit that has met almost all of the standard in a way that surpasses the norm. Red ribbons indicate average quality and indicate that the exhibit has met the majority of standards in such a way that the bench mark was reached, but not exceeded. White ribbons indicate that the exhibit has not met the majority of the standards. Only purple ribbon entries are eligible for trophies.

10. Superintendents shall have authority to make all decisions within their respective divisions in accordance with the Rules and Regulations. All protests and complaints should be lodged with the appropriate Division Superintendent in writing and signed. This appeal shall be lodged as soon as practical but, in all events, within thirty (30) minutes of completion of judging in the class. All decisions by the Protest Committee are subject to final review by the 4-H Council.

11. The respective superintendent has the authority to make appropriate decisions based on the 4-H Premium List. When needed, a committee of at least (3) but not to exceed five (5) available

    4-H Council members shall be formed to serve as a protest review group. They will meet

    when needed to act on concerns.

12. The written protest must be signed and submitted to the Superintendent and must include:
    • Names of persons involved
    • Nature of concerns
    • Situation and documentation
    • Recommendations for correction
    • Specific action, rule, etc., in question
    • Additional persons committee may contact for further clarification
    • Procedures and/or steps carried out by person involved prior to submission of the protest to the Division Superintendent
13. 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.
14. 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.

15. The 4-H Council reserves the right to withhold premium and/or award. The exhibitor may be

    excluded from the show if action warrants.

16. Protests related to judges integrity, decisions, ribbon placing, or other evaluations will not be accepted.

17. All livestock exhibits and horses must be officially identified by county and state regulations. A breeding animal to be eligible for show in a registered class must be registered by the official breed association. The registration certificate must show (1) the name of the exhibitor (2) the name of the exhibitor and/or a co-owner who is an immediate member of the exhibitor’s

    family or (3) the family or ranch name or parent’s name. REGISTRATION MUST BE COMPLETED BY FAIR DATE. Immediate family is defined as members of a household, including parents, brothers and sisters, and youth in care of the head of house.

18. Health regulations – Any animals showing infectious and contagious disease will not be permitted on the grounds.
19. An animal must be shown by the 4-H/FFA owner who entered it unless the exhibitor has been excused because of health reasons or other conflicts considered acceptable and excused by the superintendent in charge of that division. The substitute showman must be eligible to exhibit.
20. An exhibitor who has more than one animal in a class need not secure approval for another exhibitor to show the additional animal in the same class.
21. Eligibility 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 at the Nebraska State Fair. 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 require-ments. A “premium only” auction is defined as an event in which change of ownership is never the intent; but the intent is only to provide a monetary premium to accompany the ribbon earned by the exhibit.
22. Every article or animal upon the grounds shall be under the control of the Fair Board and the 4-H Council during the fair and while every precaution will be taken for the safekeeping of the same, the Fair Board or 4-H Council will in no way be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur.

23. Grooming of Livestock - Preparation and grooming of an animal should be the primary responsibility of

    the exhibitor, however assistance may be provided by other Nance County

    Fair 4-H or FFA exhibitors and/or immediate family members including: brothers, sisters and/or parents/legal guardian of the exhibitor.

    Blow and Go: All beef, swine, sheep, and goats (showmanship, market, and breeding) will be shown Blow and Go. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed or combed to enhance their appearance.

    Guidelines for the Blow and Go show:

    1. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products.
    2. Any compounds that have adhesive qualities that when applied cannot be combed or brushed through, or alter the color of the animal are forbidden. These products include, but are not limited to commonly used adhesives and colorants such as Prime Time, EZ Comb, Tail Adhesive, Natural Hold, Ultra White Touch-Up, Black Touch Up, Black Finisher, black show foam, and baby powder.
    3. Alcohol, water, oil, foam or any water or alcohol-based products with no adhesives or glue qualities, or artificial colorings are permitted. These products include conditioners and commonly used sprays such as Kleen Sheen, Revive, Final Bloom, Pink Oil, white show foam, Freshen Up, Silk, and Sudden Impact.
24. Youth livestock producers who are enrolled in production animal projects need to understand that they have an obligation to become responsible food producers. The animals involved in 4-H and FFA production projects are no different than animals produced by the commercial or seedstock livestock operations. Youth livestock producers use the same technology available to adult counterparts in the livestock industry. Market animals eventually appear in the food chain and are made available to the consuming public. Today’s modern consumer is more concerned about the quality and safety of the food supply available for their use. Recent use of illegal compounds plus the use of questionable animal management practices by individuals exhibiting market animals this past show season has caused people from all segments of the livestock industry to question the value and integrity of youth market animals shows and the educational efforts of the extension service and show management. If questionable actions are found or discrepancies against county policy are suspected, the superintendent of that show reserve the right to test the animal at his discretion.
25. Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)- All exhibitors in beef, dairy cattle, goats, sheep, swine, rabbits and poultry must have received YQCA training or testing through an Extension program by June 1. Program attendance or completion of a test in the county extension office or online is required. Completion of training will be certified by county extension staff.
26. Dress Code–Exhibitors in all contests are required to wear the county 4-H t-shirt, dark blue jeans, hard soled shoes or boots. No hats, caps, or other headgear are to be worn in the show ring. Horse exhibitors wear official dress according to their rule handbook.
27. Anyone operating a tractor on the fairgrounds must have a tractor operator’s license or a driver’s license.
28. All 4-H members are required to work in the food stand at the fair at their designated time, or trade times with someone if their appointment is inconvenient. If times are traded, the food stand supervisor must be notified. Service is an important, vital aspect of the 4-H experience! Failure to work will result in a loss of incentive money.
29. All 4-H families will donate $15 to the 4-H food stand. Failure to do so will result in a loss of incentive funds.
30. Release of all livestock and small animals will be released on Sunday, July 19 at 9:00 am. Families will leave their area at the close of fair as clean as it was prior to county fair. Failure to do so will result in a loss of incentive funds.
31. All fair building entries will be released at 9: 00 a.m. on Sunday, July 19 or 9 a.m. Early removal of fair exhibits will result in a loss of premium and incentive monies for that project.
32. Use or possession of alcoholic beverages or drugs (except for medical purposes) by any exhibitor who is participating in the Nance County Fair will result in immediate disqualification of the exhibitor’s entries.
33. Animal Abuse:
    1. Animals that have been abused will be eliminated from the show.
    2. Use of artificial stimulants or any other excessive direct abuse.

34. Premium Livestock Sale:

    1. Animals eligible to sell are market beef, sheep, swine, market broiler and meat goats. Animals will be sold on a flat rate bid (not on a price per pound basis). All ribbon placings will be eligible to sell. There will be NO ribbon price limitations, other than the price can’t exceed that of the respec-tive species champion. Sell by gender and if no champion, reserve champion sets the price or highest ribbon.
       1. Sheep
       2. Market Broiler

    Order of the sale will rotate each year:

35. Swine
36. Meat Goat
37. Beef
    1. Exhibitors are eligible to sell a limit of two (2) animals (any combination). Ten percent (10%) of the premium of each animals selling will go back to the 4-H general fund and distributed with two percent (2%) going to the 4-H Council and eight percent (8%) going into the incentive fund. Exhibitor will receive ninety percent (90%) of the premium. All animals selling on the livestock sale are ineligible for incentive fund money but they remain eligible for any specified incentive fund premiums. If there is no bid on an animal, they would be eligible for incentive fund. Market animals not going through the livestock sale are eligible for full incentive fund premiums. The Youth Market Livestock Premium Sale will be held at the fair. Exhibitors, parents and other indi-viduals who interfere with any aspect of the livestock sale before, during or after, will forfeit premi ums, awards and auction proceeds. This includes harassment of buyers involved with the live stock sale.
    2. Exhibitors are required to wear the 4-H T-Shirt during the livestock sale.
    3. Exhibitors must be present to exhibit their own animal in the sale unless they have been excused by the Nance County 4-H Council.