General Rules
The Custer County Ag Society welcomes 4-H members, parents, leaders, and friends to participate at the Custer County Fair. All of Custer County will be represented through 4-H exhibits and/or participation by 4-H members in many programs. To youth, fairs mean exchanging friendships and new adventures, families working together, recognition, plus evaluation feedback of individual and team efforts.
All 4-H youth exhibits at the Custer County Fair are products of members’ participation in 4-H programming. We invite you to visit the 4-H exhibits and participate in programs.
OBJECTIVES - 4-H SECTION OF CUSTER COUNTY FAIR
1. To provide new experiences for youth, leaders, and staff who participate.
2. To provide leadership opportunities for 4-H youth and adults.
3. To provide recognition for achievement.
4. To inspire the adoption of approved practices and new ideas.
5. To provide learning awareness opportunities for the public who visit the 4-H exhibits.
6. To add to the public understanding about the scope of 4-H.
7. To help build a better Custer County Fair.
SECTION I GENERAL RULES
NOTE: Not all 4-H projects are such that they can have entries for the County Fair. If your project is not listed in this book, there is not an entry for the fair.
1. ELIGIBILITY:
4-H Age: The age of the youth before January 1 of the current year.
- If your birthday is on January 1, your 4-H age is the age you were on December 31st.
- If you turn eight (8) on January 1, your 4-H age is seven (7).
- If you turn nine (9) on January 1, your 4-H age is eight (8).
- 4-H eligibility is determined based on the 4-H age. (The age of
the member on December 31st of the previous year)
- The first year of eligibility for participation in the 4-H Clover Kids program is the 4-H age of five (5).
- The last year of eligibility for participation in the 4-H Clover Kids program is the 4-H age of seven (7).
- The first year of eligibility for the regular 4-H program is the 4-H age of eight (8).
- The last year of eligibility is 4-H age of eighteen (18).
2. Only Nebraska Extension recognized 4-H'ers enrolled in projects in Custer County by the statewide June 15 deadline may exhibit and collect premium money in the 4-H division. Starting in the 2023-2024 program year, project selection is optional. By successfully completing the 4‑H member enrollment by the June 15th deadline, youth will be eligible to participate and exhibit in any project area and/or contest, including county and state fairs. While project selection is optional, it is encouraged for youth to select projects they are interested in exploring. Youth are only eligible to exhibit in a project area or contest in a single county. Horse and shooting sports projects will continue to require project enrollment due to the parental consent required to participate in these projects.
3. Articles entered as a 4-H project must have been completed as a 4-H project and not used as a project for any other organization or school. Exhibits must have been prepared and completed by the 4-H member during the current project year and must not have been exhibited at a previous county fair. This ruling is based on honesty and respect to all other educational organizations.
4. Most exhibits will be divided into groups according to merit. In the 4-H Section, 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 standards 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 benchmark was reached but not exceeded. White ribbons indicate that the exhibit has not met the majority of the standards. Green ribbons denote participation ribbons. A participation ribbon is recognition of the 4-H exhibit's presence at the fair. The objective of the project is primarily focused on a high level of individual planning and creativity. The judge will write comments about the exhibits.
5. Students who participated in a 4-H school enrichment project at school with their classroom, may enter exhibits in the 4-H School Enrichment Department.
6. 4-H entries must be made according to the printed 2026 Custer County Fair Premium Book and entered online by 5:00 p.m. on June 26. Instructions for online entries will be emailed to 4-H families on approximately May 15. At the September 19, 2022 4-H Council meeting, the following motion was made. “Every 4-H member is eligible for a “one-time” member exemption for late county fair entries. The exemption provides the ability (one-time in a 4-H member’s career) for the 4-H member to acknowledge they missed the county fair entry deadline, with a $25 late fee charged per member.”
7. Exhibits will be released on Thursday, July 30, 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. EARLY RELEASE MUST BE FOR EMERGENCY REASONS ONLY.
- All exhibits must be removed from the fairgrounds on the release date, July 30. ANY EXHIBITOR LEAVING AN EXHIBIT ON THE GROUNDS OR LEAVING EARLY WITHOUT A WRITTEN RELEASE BY AN EDUCATOR OR SUPERINTENDENT, WILL NOT RECEIVE PREMIUM MONEY!
9. Premium checks will be given to the organizational leader for his/her club members and should be held until the final reports (record books) of the club members are completed and turned in on or before October 1. If given to club members before reports are turned in, leaders will assume the responsibility for the members to complete and submit reports before October 1.
10. Home Economics and Agriculture exhibits tagged for the State Fair must be turned into the Extension Office by 12:00 noon on August 25. Large exhibits that may need to be transported to the State Fair by the exhibitor will be tagged with the appropriate information at the county fair.
11. VIOLATION OF RULES renders the exhibitor subject to loss of premium money, ribbons, other awards, and/or elimination from the show. Any exhibitor not complying with the specifications set forth in the premium book will be dropped one ribbon placing when judged. 4-H members not attending interview judging will be dropped one ribbon placing unless prior arrangements were made with the Superintendent and/or Extension Staff in charge of the project areas involved. 
- Any action or practice by a Custer County 4-H family which does or could potentially mar the Custer County 4-H Program’s integrity may be reviewed with appropriate action taken by the Custer County 4-H Program.
13. Personal Conduct on Fairgrounds Premises - The Fairgrounds is the private property of the Custer County Agricultural Society. Persons attending events on the fairgrounds are expected to maintain proper deportment while on the grounds. This includes illegal acts, as well as verbal and physical abuse towards each other and towards animals. Individuals who may be in violation of this policy are subject to being directed to cease their behavior immediately or be dismissed from the fairgrounds of premises.
Persons authorized to act on behalf of the Custer County Agricultural Society include police officers, the Fairgrounds manager, the Custer County Extension Educator, and any director of the Custer County Agricultural Society (Fairboard member). If necessary, the Custer County Sheriff may be called upon to assist.
14. Rules and regulations are approved by the Fair Board and the 4-H Council. Superintendents have the authority to enforce these rules and make necessary decisions. These decisions will be final.
15. An animal must be shown by the 4-H owner 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. 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 showmen must be a 4-H member exhibiting at the current 4-H livestock show. All substitute showmen should wear an exhibitor number identifying him/her as a substitute showman (available in the 4-H Livestock Office).
16. NO 4-H OR FFA HORSES WILL BE PERMITTED EAST OF BARN NUMBER 1.
17. The Custer County Fair Board, Nebraska Extension-Custer County, and Custer County 4-H Council are not responsible for loss or damage of any exhibit or personal property, or liable for personal injury.
18. 4-H members may exhibit one (1) entry per class unless otherwise noted.
19. Neck ropes are recommended to be in place on all beef and dairy animals. A policy that any animals that are unruly or deemed to be a safety hazard to spectators are subject to removal at the discretion of the superintendents.
20. The Custer County Ag Society wants the tie-outs available on the fairgrounds to be used. NO PENS ALLOWED.
21. PROTEST COMMITTEE - The respective Superintendent has the authority to make appropriate decisions based on the 4-H Division in the Custer County Fair Premium Book. When needed, a committee of 1-3 persons shall be appointed to serve as a protest review group. They will meet when needed to act upon concerns.
a. All protests must be submitted in writing and signed.
b. The written protest must be submitted to the appropriate superintendent and must include:
1. names of persons involved
2. nature of concerns
3. situation and documentation
4. recommendations for correction
5. specific action, rule, etc., in question
6. additional persons committee may contact for further clarification
7. procedures and/or steps carried out by person involved prior to submission of the protest to the appropriate superintendent.
c. The committee will review the written protest. They may discuss the situation with affected persons and show officials, including the Nebraska Extension-Custer County Staff. Recommendations will be developed, followed, and communicated both verbally and in writing to the group or individual affected.
d. 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.
e. The management reserves the right to withhold premium and/or award. The exhibitor may be excluded from the show if action warrants.
f. Protests will not be accepted after the exhibit is released from the 4-H Division of the Custer County Fair.
Protests related to judges' integrity, decisions, placings, or other evaluations will not be accepted.
22. USE AND/OR POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND/OR MOOD-ALTERING SUBSTANCES AT ALL 4-H EVENTS AND/OR PROGRAMS - The use or possession of alcohol or tobacco in any form, or any controlled substances (not under physicians’ prescription) at any 4-H event by program participants are prohibited. Infraction of the rules may result in dismissal from the event or program, the withholding or premiums, or other disciplinary action.
Extension Staff, in consultation with those individuals/volunteers supervising the relevant event, will determine the appropriate disciplinary action. In the event of dismissal, the Extension Staff responsible and the parent/guardians of the 4-H member will be contacted before the 4-H member is sent home.
Use of these substances by adults at 4-H events where children and youth are present is strongly discouraged.
23. CAMPING - 4-H club members sleeping on the grounds must be in a truck, camper, or similar facility and must be chaperoned by an adult and abide by the designated curfew. SLEEPING IN BARNS IS PROHIBITED AT NIGHT! The Custer County Agricultural Society and 4-H Activities Corporation, while using every precaution, will not be responsible for the individual well-being of any person desiring to camp or stay overnight on the fairgrounds. There will be a fee assessed per mobile living quarters during the Custer County Fair, paid at the time of reservation with the Custer County Ag Society. Checks are to be made payable to the Custer County Ag Society.
24. A 1:00 a.m. curfew for minors has been established by the Custer County Ag Society. This curfew will be enforced.
25. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE FAIR -To represent Custer County at the Nebraska State Fair, 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, fashion show, and contests, a 4-H member must be 8 before January 1, 2026 or become 9 years of age during 2026. 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 become 9 years of age during 2026. Therefore, they must be 8 before January 1. All static exhibits must have received a purple ribbon at the county fair to advance to the State Fair. A youth who has completed their 4-H eligibility or graduated from 4-H in any other state is not eligible to compete at the Nebraska State Fair, unless their state of residence is changed to Nebraska. University guidelines for residency for the purpose of paying in-state tuition will apply for determining residency.
26. A Champion/Reserve Champion or Best of Show/Reserve Best of Show Rosette will be awarded in each project area, with the exception of the entries made by Clover Kids. Exhibits must be of blue ribbon quality to receive a rosette.
27. No animals shall be stalled on the fairgrounds before 8:00 a.m. on Sunday.
28. USE OF ATV'S, UTV'S, GOLF CARTS & OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES ON THE FAIRGROUNDS: "The private/personal use of ATV'S, UTV'S, GOLF CARTS & OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLES on the fairgrounds is prohibited during the fair. Exceptions may be granted by the fairgrounds administrator for handicapped persons, law enforcement and emergency services personnel. Authorized users must provide a valid proof of insurance certificate and meet all other NE Department of Motor Vehicles requirements."
29. No firearms, items with a blade (broad heads, knives, saws, etc.) or related items of any other kind, may be exhibited. This applies to actual items, replicated items, and item parts. Shooting sports accessories are permissible as described in the Shooting Sports Exhibits section of the premium book.
30. USE OF COPY WRITTEN IMAGES: Copyrighted writing, artwork, videos, and images may be used in 4-H educational exhibits under Fair Use for educational purposes of Copyright Law. In order to qualify for Fair Use, 4-H’ers must: 1) only use a small amount of copy-written work, 2) add new meaning to the work to make it original, 3) rework it and use it in a totally different way, and 4) use it for nonprofit purposes (not to make money). Giving credit to the original creator is also recommended.
4-H ENTRIES MUST BE MADE ACCORDING TO THE PRINTED 2026 CUSTER COUNTY FAIR PREMIUM BOOK
AND ENTERED ONLINE BY 5:00 P.M. ON JUNE 26. INSTRUCTIONS FOR ONLINE ENTRIES WILL BE EMAILED TO 4-H
FAMILIES ON APPROXIMATELY MAY 15. LATE ENTRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.