General Rules & Information

Public Safety Concerns

FIRST AID - First aid kits are conspicuously located in the Livestock Pavilion, Events Center, Grandstand, Rodeo Arena Crow’s Nest, Ticket Office and Fair Manager’s Office. First aid supplies can also be located in the Sheriff’s Office mobile communication center located on the fairgrounds.  A manned rescue unit will be stationed on the fairgrounds during major events.

LAW ENFORCEMENT - Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Officers will be stationed at the fairgrounds during the evening hours.  Security officers will be on duty until sunrise.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS - Fire extinguishers are conspicuously located in buildings throughout the fairgrounds and in Sheriff’s vehicles.  Please observe the NO SMOKING signs posted in all buildings.  All buildings are non-smoking. Please do not tamper with safety equipment and supplies as they have been placed for your protection.
PARKING - The area along the east side of the Events Center is reserved for Handicapped parking.  Please observe the NO PARKING signs posted throughout the grounds.  This is done for reasons of fire safety.

General Eligibility Rules

1. ELIGIBILITY FOR EXHIBITORS: To be eligible for 4-H membership, members must be 8-18 by midnight January 1 of the current year.  There will be no discrimination because of race, color, national origin, disability or sex.  4-H members are eligible to compete in 4-H in Scotts Bluff County, regardless of college credits.
2. All 4-H and FFA exhibitors are requested to familiarize themselves with ALL the rules and regulations which apply to their exhibits. 4-H and FFA projects must be exhibited in each respective organization.  The same exhibit cannot be shown in both organizations.
3. 4-H members must be enrolled in 4-H in Scotts Bluff County to exhibit their projects at the County Fair.  If a 4-H member is enrolled in two different counties, he/she must carry a different project in each county.
4. Exhibitors may make entries only in projects in which they are enrolled in the current club year.
5. Each exhibitor is allowed only one entry per class with the exception of livestock classes.
6. All rules laid down by the 4-H Council and Ag Society must be strictly adhered to.  Exception will be made only when respectfully presented to a Protest Committee, made up of the Superintendent(s) of the division involved, and the 4-H Council President.  The following outline should be followed when presenting a complaint:
   A.    All protests must be submitted in writing, signed and dated.
   B.    The written protest must be submitted to the Protest Committee and must include the following:
           *Names of persons involved.
           *Nature of concerns, exact time and date of occurrence.
           *Situation and documentation of concern.
           *Recommendations for corrective action or constructive problem resolution.
           *Specification, rule, etc., in question.
           *Additional persons the committee may contact for further clarification.
   C.    The committee will review the written protest.  They may discuss the solution with affected persons and show officials to include fair management if appropriate. The recommendations will be 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 awards.  The exhibitor may be excluded from the show if action warrants.
   F.    Protests will not be accepted after a 24-hour period from the time of occurrence.  Protests related to judges’ integrity, decisions, placing or other evaluations will not be accepted.
7. The area superintendents reserve the right to make any regulations as the need arises.  They also reserve the right to reject unworthy exhibits of any kind by refusing space, stalls, pens or admission to the grounds.
8. Superintendents have the authority to add or take away any class as they see fit.  They have final decision in their subject matter area.
9. The Nebraska Extension Staff, general chairman or anyone connected with any committee dealing with the fair is not responsible in any way for any loss, accident or damage to livestock or displays; however, all due diligence must be taken into consideration.
10. Exhibitors at all times must pay attention to articles they have on exhibit and, at the close of the fair, be on hand to take care of such exhibits.
11. STATE FAIR ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible for State Fair competition, an exhibitor must be a 4-H member enrolled in the project they are exhibiting in the county which he/she represents.  There will be no discrimination because of race, color, sex, disability or national origin.  In classes where presence of the 4-H member is required for judging purposes such as animal exhibits, demonstrations, and fashion revue, a 4-H member must have reached his/her 8th birthday but not have passed his/her 19th birthday by midnight January 1 of the current year.

Premium Procedures

1.  Eligibility to compete for premiums offered in this division is restricted to bonafide 4-H members who are enrolled and who have completed the requirements of their clubs and/or projects to date.
2. 4-H members are requested to complete projects including record books before any premium money will be paid. 
3. Premiums will be paid on the number and worth of entries in order that the total premiums will not exceed the fair budget.
4. The Ag Society does not feel justified in paying premiums unless there is reasonable competition.
5. Premiums will be available to the exhibitors at the annual 4-H Achievement Program or as soon after as will allow proper processing.
6. Premium amounts are as follows:
   Purple - $4.00
   Blue - $3.00
   Red - $2.00
   White - $1.00
   There are no extra premiums awarded for trophies or participation awards.

Judging Procedures

1. All classes, in all divisions, will be judged by placing into any one or combination of purple, blue, red, white and unclassified groups.  The same prize money will be paid each entry in the same class in the same ribbon group.  Champions and Reserve Champions will be selected from the purple and blue ribbon group.
2. The decisions of the judges will prevail in all classes except where mistake, fraud or misrepresentation is found following the initial placing.
3. The judge will not award prizes to any unworthy exhibit and will base his award on the merit of the exhibit.
4. Where classes do not fill, entries will receive the premium they warrant in the opinion of the judge.
5. The judge will be provided with the ultrasound and rate of gain data and will be used at the judge’s discretion in all market classes.
6. Three showmanship awards will be given in each showmanship age division.