1. Any livestock exhibitor who is found to have tampered with or entered an exhibit that is not eligible for exhibit or does not abide by fair rules will forfeit premiums, ribbons or prizes won.
2. Livestock will be expected to comply with health regulations stipulated by the fair board.
3. Any 4-H animal which presents a serious threat to the safety of fair observers, participants, or other animals can be removed at the superintendent’s discretion.
4. Treatments, injections, medications, or procedures such as drenching (defined as forcing liquids down the throat) shall be administered by a licensed veterinarian for the sole purpose of protecting the health of the animal. Muzzles on livestock are not allowed.
5. No intact males are allowed in goat, horse, sheep or swine classes.
6. Official dress for exhibitors will be a plain white or 4-H shirt and dark blue (not black) jeans. White trousers are acceptable for dairy exhibitors. This rule also applies to exhibitors of small animals. Shorts may be allowed for showing small animals in hot weather. Check with the Extension Office to see if shorts will be allowed.
7. Only the exhibitor’s immediate family members or other 4-H’ers exhibiting at the same county fair are allowed to groom an animal at the fair.
8. Exhibitors agree to abide by the IAFE National Code of Show Ring Ethics. A copy is available from the Nebraska Extension office for your inspection.
9. Livestock shows are “blow and go.” This means that exhibitors will not use artificial compounds including adhesives, paint or foam on their animals to show them. No aerosols may be used. Sheep and goats are to be shown dry without paint or adhesives. Swine may be sprayed with water only. Animals may be clipped, blown, brushed or combed to enhance their appearance.
HERDSMANSHIP: Each species will be judged separately. Exhibits should be properly identified with stall cards. Herdsmanship is the responsibility of the exhibitors and not the leaders and parents. Judging of herdsmanship will begin two hours after check-in and conclude at noon the final day of the fair. Stalls may be checked between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Animals will be expected to be in their stalls until release time. Criteria for herdsmanship judging will be as follows:
| Animals clean and groomed. |
| Pens clean. |
| Tack and equipment neatly arranged in a safe manner out of traffic flow. |
| Exhibitors’ share of alley area kept clean. Wheelbarrows kept outside. |
Proper courtesy and conduct shown by exhibitors at all times and at all places. Exhibitors are expected to do the herdsmanship. |
CLUB GROUPS: One group per club per species. The five animals must be owned by at least three club members.
SHOWMANSHIP: Showmanship exhibitors will be divided into one, two or three divisions based on the member’s age before January 1 of the current year. Number of divisions may be determined by number of exhibitors. An animal may be shown one time in showmanship per year. Exhibitors may use only one animal per species in showmanship and that animal must be entered in their name.
2 Divisions 3 Divisions
Junior (4-H age 12 and under) Junior (4-H age 8 to 10)
Senior (4-H age 13 and over) Intermediate (4-H age 11 to 13)
Senior (4-H age 14 and over)