General Class Rules

GENERAL CLASS RULES 

The following Rules apply to all divisions. Rules which apply specifically to a particular division will be listed under Rules for that division.  

1. EXHIBIT REQUIREMENTS – 4-H members must be enrolled in 4-H by June 15 to be eligible to exhibit at any Nebraska county fair or the Nebraska State Fair. All 4-H exhibits must meet requirements as set forth in the official County Fair premium list. Those exhibits not meeting the requirements will automatically be lowered ONE RIBBON PLACING. This includes exhibits made for any sewing projects that are not brought to be judged on Clothing/Style Revue judging day. Items entered as FFA, or 4-H projects must have been completed as a 4-H or FFA project and not used as a project for any other organization. 4-H projects completed in school (i.e., sewn garments made in Home Economics classes) are eligible for exhibit at County Fair, provided the 4-H’er has enrolled in the appropriate 4-H project by the current year’s enrollment deadline.  
2. COUNTY FAIR ENTRY DAY DEADLINE AND EXHIBIT RELEASE – One youth per entry form. Fair entry forms, Livestock ID’s, and Horse IDs are due July 1. Any entries submitted late between July 2- July 5 12PM will constitute in a $10 late fee due by July 5 12PM. Entries will NOT be accepted after July 5 12PM, and member will not be eligible to exhibit at the county fair. All counties request that you do not remove exhibits from the exhibit halls until the official release. 4-H Enrollment and YQCA Certification are due on June 15. 
3. NUMBER OF ENTRIES - Only two (2) entries per class per exhibitor unless otherwise indicated.  One entry per class if it is an item that will be up for auction. (Ex: cookie jar, animals, foods.)
4. 4-H MEMBER MUST BE ENROLLED IN HORSE OR SHOOTING SPORTS PROJECT ON 4-HONLINE TO EXHIBIT.  
5. 4-H AGE REQUIREMENTS - 4-H members must be between 8 and 18 years of age on January 1 of the current year (this is their 4-H age). The Clover Kid program is a non-competitive, pre-4-H program for kids 5-7 years 4-H age (their age as of January 1 of the current year). Age divisions for all the Central Sandhills Area County Fairs and Pre-Fair Contests will apply as follows:  

1. JUDGING OF EXHIBITS - No parents will be allowed in with the 4-H’er during interview judging, or in the interview area. Exhibits will be judged according to their merit and receive appropriate color ribbons. Purple denotes a superior exhibit. Blue denotes an excellent exhibit, and red denotes a good exhibit. White denotes an exhibit that needs improvement or did not meet qualifications. Incomplete exhibits will be lowered one ribbon placing. If the 4-Her cannot be present for the interview judging, their exhibit(s) will be lowered one ribbon placing and ineligible for state. In interview judging, the judge and 4-H’er talk about the exhibit as it is being evaluated. Knowing “why” they receive the ribbon they do, greatly increases their learning experience. Interview judging is used at all our County Fairs. CHAMPION AND RESERVE CHAMPION COUNTY AWARDS WILL BE AWARDED OR NOT AWARDED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE JUDGES AND EVENT SUPERINTENDENT.  
2. PREMIUMS - Premiums will be paid on all exhibits unless indicated RIBBON ONLY. PREMIUMS WILL BE PRORATED IF THEY EXCEED TOTAL MONEY AVAILABLE.  
3. CLASS NUMBERS FOLLOWED BY “L” ARE COUNTY FAIR EXHIBITS ONLY AND ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FAIR EXHIBITION.  
4. DRESS CODE – See departments rules for dress code.  
5. SUBSTITUTE SHOWMAN - A substitute showman will be allowed in certain emergencies or if an exhibitor has two (2) animals in one (1) class. The substitute showman must be a 4-H member in the county involved.  
6. PROTEST & GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE - All protests must be in writing, signed and submitted to the Central Sandhills Area Extension office. The written protest must include names of persons involved; nature of concern; 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 4-H Council. The Joint 4-H Council grievance committee will review the written protest. They may discuss the situation with affected persons and show officials. Recommendations will be developed, followed, and communicated both verbally and in writing to the group or individual affected. In cases of protest, the exhibitor may 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. The exhibitor may be excluded from the show if action warrants, and awards/premiums may be withheld. Protests related to judges' integrity, decisions, placing, or other evaluations will not be accepted.  
7. Situations not covered by the County 4-H Rules will be governed by the State 4-H Rules and Policy Handbook found at https://4h.unl.edu/policy-handbook.  
8. DISCLAIMER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXHIBITS AT FAIR - "4-H exhibits at County Fair are entered and displayed at the risk of the 4-H member. The 4-H Councils, in cooperation with the County Ag Societies, accept exhibits and will exercise due care to protect them. However, the 4-H Councils and the Fair Boards/Ag Societies cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage due to the conditions imposed by crowds, the arrangement of the buildings in which displays are housed and the number of exhibits. 4-H'ers who have exhibits of great sentimental and/or monetary value should carefully consider whether such exhibits should be exposed to the hazards of the fair." While the greatest possible care will be exercised by the management to protect patrons of the Fair, everyone will be held personally responsible for any injury.  
9. SUBSTANCE ABUSE - Use or possession of alcoholic beverages or drugs (except for medical purposes) by any exhibitor who is participating in 4-H at the Fair will result in immediate disqualification of that exhibitor's entry.  
10. DISQUALIFICATIONS/JUDGING - The superintendent, judge and extension staff will determine eligibility/ineligibility of an exhibit entry in their division. All eligible items will be judged and displayed. Ineligible items will not be judged and will not be displayed.  
11. GRAND OR RESERVE CHAMPION: To be eligible for grand or reserve champion, an exhibitor must receive a purple or blue ribbon. 
12. Clover Kids are not eligible to exhibit in the Horse or Shooting Sports project per NE State 4-H Rules and Policy. 
13. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE FAIR EXHIBITORS – An exhibitor must be a 4-H member enrolled in the project they are exhibiting in the county which he/she represents. In classes where presence of the 4-H’er is required for judging purposes, such as animal exhibits, judging contests, presentations, and fashion revue, a 4-H member must be 8 by January 1 of the current year. The last year of eligibility is the calendar year the member becomes 19. For classes where presence of the 4-H’er is not required, the exhibitor must be 8 years of age during the current year; therefore, they must be 8 as of January 1. State Fair information can be found at 4-H Nebraska State Fair.  All static exhibits must have received a purple ribbon at the county fair to advance to the State Fair.

GRANT, HOOKER AND THOMAS COUNTY AUCTION RULES- 

Exhibitors and one of their parents MUST attend the livestock committee meeting in order to sell and participate in the livestock auction.

Exhibitors will be able to sell 1 market beef Livestock Sale-

, 1 market swine, 1 market goat, 1 market lamb, 1 lot (3) market broilers.

Market livestock must meet the following MINIMUM weight requirements to be eligible for sale. No maximum weight requirements. 

• Market Steer: 1,000 lbs.
• Market Heifer: 900 lbs.
• Market Swine: 200 lbs.
• Market Goat: 50 lbs.
• Market Lamb: 100 lbs.
• Market Broiler Lot:  4 lbs. each

Livestock failing to meet the weight requirement may show but will be ineligible for championship awards and the livestock sale.

**All livestock selling in the sale must have a butcher date booked by the exhibitor.

Cookie Jar/Baked Goods Sale

Exhibitors will be able to sell 1 decorated cookie jar with interview, OR 1 decorated baked good with interview (cake, cupcakes, or cookies).

All livestock/baked items sold in the auction will be assessed a commission fee of 3%.

Youth must be present to show livestock/baked items at Auction, or it will not be auctioned.  If there is a conflict, a written appeal may be considered. 

Checks will be mailed out to all 4-H members. Please be patient as the Grant County Auction Committee will issue checks after all buyer checks are received and 4-Hers have written a thank you to their buyer.