RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. While the greatest possible care will be executed by the management to protect patrons of the York County Fair, each individual will be held personally responsible for his/her actions and the management will not be accountable or responsible for any injury.
2. York County Agricultural Society assumes no liability for loss or damage to any property to the concessionaire, exhibitor, or patron, due to theft, fire, tornado, weather conditions or other causes.
3. When an entry is made, the exhibitors name will be used to identify each exhibit at the fair in 4-H, FFA and Open Class. Once an entry is made in the books, no change of that entry will be permitted, nor will anyone be allowed to see the entries as made until after the awards have been placed. The management reserves the right and privilege to refuse entries if there is no space available. 4-H and FFA exhibitors must be members in good standing of the program (4-H or FFA) under which they are competing, meeting age and membership eligibility requirements. For Round Robin Showmanship competition 4-H age rules for eligibility (not 19 years of age by Jan 1 of current year)
4. All entries must be owned and / or cared for by the exhibitors, all agricultural and horticultural products must be the products of the present year, except crops not yet harvested, in which last year's crops may be exhibited.
5. In case of a protest, a written statement setting forth the reasons for protesting must be filed with the secretary before the close of the fair.
6. In case of general conflict with department rules the department rules govern.
7. Premium monies will be paid to all exhibitors on the last day of the fair beginning at 4 pm or at the Extension Office within 90 working days after the final day of the fair. PREMIUM MONEY WILL NOT BE MAILED. In case there are insufficient funds to pay premiums in full, they will be prorated and paid accordingly. Unclaimed premiums will be forfeited. If items are removed from grounds prior to Sunday all Premium money will be forfeited.
8. Open class exhibits from the counties surrounding York County will be accepted, except where department rules restrict such entries. (Polk, Seward, Saline, Fillmore, Clay, Hamilton, Butler)
9. All articles and animals must remain within the enclosure during the fair and cannot be removed until the last day of the fair without the written permission of the secretary unless otherwise stated. Release of exhibits is from 4 to 6 pm on Sunday.
10. Feed must be furnished by exhibitors. Bedding will be ordered by show management and charged to exhibitors.
11. All livestock exhibitors must clean out their stalls/pens and move the bedding to the proper dumpster. Herdsmanship premiums will not be paid until this requirement has been met.
12. All classes of livestock must be shown in the arena to receive premiums.
13. All livestock must be owned and / or cared for by the exhibitor making the entry, noting that other shows may have different requirements. In addition, livestock must be shown by that exhibitor except in case of injury, sickness, or other acceptable reason.
14. In the case that a 4-H/FFA member exhibitor is injured or seriously ill at the time of the show or shall have been called to active duty in the Armed Forces after having started a project, the project may be continued, and the animal (s) may be exhibited in the name of the original Club Member. The substitute showman must be a 4-H/FFA member currently enrolled in one of the organizations serving York County and be eligible to exhibit 4-H/FFA livestock at that years' show and approved in advance of the show by the Extension Staff. An exhibitor who has more than one animal in a class need not secure advance approval for another eligible exhibitor to exhibit one of his/her animals.
15. Open class animal exhibitors must turn in entries and pen or stall requests by the first Friday of July at the York County Extension Office.
16. No animal or exhibit may be entered in open class and youth classes.
17. Each exhibitor may be asked to submit a signed affidavit certifying correct withdrawal from legal drugs, vaccines, or other substances. They will also certify that their entries have not received any non-approved drugs.
18. All livestock fans must be attached to the tie rails or walls. No fans in rear of animal regardless of equipment.
19. 4-H and Open Class feeder calves may arrive on show day and are dismissed after the show. They may be stalled in the beef barn (provided there is room) for the duration of the fair but cannot return once they are removed.
20. All livestock must be exhibited in a show in order to be stalled on the grounds. Otherwise, you will be charged for advertising space.
21. All animals brought to the fairgrounds are subject to the State of Nebraska Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Industry and Veterinary Services regulations. Animals include beef cattle and dairy, sheep, goats, swine, and poultry. Complete Nebraska County Fair Animal Health Requirements are available at the Extension Office or from the York County Fair Board.
22. 4-H and FFA exhibitors showing all animals are required to wear county fair appropriate dress for the area in which they are competing. The dress would include the official 4-H shirt with the youth program logo as provided by the 4-H Council and blue jeans. Dairy and dairy goat exhibitors only may wear dark blue jeans or white pants. No hats, caps or other types of headgear are to be worn in the show ring. Exhibitors shall not display local, commercial, or other identification while showing their animals-except official 4-H or FFA identification the required.
23. Animal Exhibits for Children (ages 5-7 as of Jan 1) must adhere to the following: Age, size and temperament of animal projects must be appropriate for the exhibitor's age and size. Horse 18. projects are not allowed or appropriate. Beef animals weighing more than 350 pounds at the time of show are not allowed or appropriate for this age group either. Animals that are appropriate for this age group include bucket calf, sheep, swine, goat, dog, poultry, rabbit, and companion animals. This applies to all animal projects. Allowable large animals should be no more than 6 months of age and no more than 350 pounds at time of show.
24. The ‘Home Raised’ classes will be considered as ‘Bred and Owned Classes’ where animals to be eligible for this class must be the offspring of females owned at the time of breeding for the animal that is to be shown. The owners of the dam must be the youth entering the animal, immediate family members or in the name of the family farm operation. The member entering and exhibiting the animal must have care and management access to the animal throughout the lifetime of the animal to be shown, birth to show. Care and management to be consistent with accepted Nebraska 4-H Policy
25. Preparation and grooming of an animal should be the primary responsibility of the Fair exhibitor; however, assistance may be provided by other Fair 4-H or FFA exhibitors, immediate family members or another person acting in a mentoring and teaching capacity. The intent of this policy is to promote and foster positive youth development and a high-quality learning experience which are core values of 4-H and FFA.
26. All livestock shows will be Blow and Go; animals may be clipped, blown, and brushed or combed to enhance their appearance. Guidelines for the Blow and Go show:
a. All animals will be shown free of any adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products.
b. 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 a. White Touch-Up, Black Touch Up, Black Finisher, black show foam, and baby powder.
c.. 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. Paint will be allowed on the hooves and dewclaws only.
d. Any animal found to have prohibited products applied (adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products) will be disqualified from competition. Any premiums (physical or monetary) will be forfeited, and no refunds will be made.
e. All animals will be subject to visual inspection and/or toweling (before and/or after entering the show ring) using a disposable blue shop towel for the presence of adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products. Toweling of the animal may include, but is not limited to, the topline, legs, chest, belly, flank, and cod/udder areas. If, after inspection, the animal is found to have adhesive, glue, paint, or powder products applied it will be disqualified from competition. Any premiums (physical or monetary) will be forfeited, and no refunds will be made.
f. Unethical Fitting and Grooming Practices: It is a violation if an animal evidence air pumping or the presence of inappropriate substances to alter conformation. Similarly, it is a violation to use artificial colors or dyes meant to misrepresent breed characteristics or enhance animal conformation. Methods such as stomach pumping to induce artificial fill, performing surgical and/or non-surgical procedures to alter the animal’s configuration or the natural conformation of any part of the animal’s body, or unethical fitting are grounds for disqualification. The following generally accepted management practices are allowed: hoof trimming, dehorning, removal of hair, a. castration, branding, tattooing, ear notching, drenching, and docking of tails.
27 In the event an exhibitor has multiple market animals in the same class, the exhibitor has the option to move an animal up a weight class to be able to show their own animal.
28 No personal motorized vehicles will be allowed on the York County Fairgrounds during the Fair or Fair related activities without the prior written approval of the York County Ag Society Board of Directors.