RULES GOVERNING THE OTSEGO COUNTY FAIR

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1. Exhibitors shall carefully examine and read this Premium Book and become familiar with all rules governing fair entries, exhibits and general rules of the Youth and Open Departments and Sections and all MDA Health Requirements for Livestock Exhibited in Michigan.  This will avoid misunderstandings, errors and complaints.  When in doubt, ask a member of the Fair Board of Directors.
2. The OtsegoCounty Fair Board of Directors has given are chairpersons the final ruling in all matters in their area during Fair week.  The area chairperson reserves the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and regulations and to arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions and differences in regard thereto.  It further reserves the right to amend or add to these rules as in its judgment it may determine to withdraw all, or pay in part, premium offerings in all departments, should an emergency exist and circumstances demand it.
3. These rules are finakl and will be strictly enforced.  Violators, if contestants, will forfeit all entry fees, and be removed from the grounds.
4. All paticipants will be governed by all rules and regulations set by the Otsego County Fair Board of Directors.
5. Directors are expected to be on hand during Fair week.
6. Absolutely no soliciting for donations may be attempted outside of commercial spaces rented for that purpose.  Violators of this rule will be forced to leave the grounds and no refunds will be made.  All literature is to be passed out from rented booth space only.  Any such group or person deemed unsatisfactory will not be allowed.
7. Every precaution will be taken to ensure the safety of the exhibits, but under no circumstances will the Fair Association be responsible for personal accidents, loss, theft, injury or damage to an exhibit, by fire, lighning, wind or any other occurrence beyond our control to such livestock or articles on exhibition or display.  Management will use diligence to ensure the safety of livestock and articles to be entered for exhibition or display after their arricval on the grounds.  The exhibitor will against all legal or other proceedings shall indemnify the Fair and Management thereto.  Security will be on hand during Fair week.
8. Persons starting any arguments or misconduct at the fairgrounds will immediately be removed from the grounds.
9. There will be absolutely no refunds of any kind, if there is a cancellation due to inclement weather or any occurance beyond our control.
10. Complaint Procedure:
    1. Any exhibitor may submit a written complaint to the Otsego County Fair Board, accompanied by a complaint fee of $25.00, which is non-refundable. (See Complaints / Appeals Process on the following page.)
    2. If the subsequent decision of the board is unsatisfactory to the complainant, he/she may appeal to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, Department of Fairs, Exhibitions, and Racing, P.O. Box 30017, Lansing, MI 48909.
11. The use of any drug or chemical compound that is not approved by the Food & Drug Administration for use in meat animals constitutes unethical fitting. The illegal administration of approved drugs and compounds is also prohibited. All livestock and equine entered in the Open and Youth Departments are subject to blood, urine and tissue tests by the Fair Board, FDA and USDA for illegal and substances that exceed the acceptable levels established by the United State Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database and the Environmental Protection Agency. A positive test will result in disqualification of the animal and may forfeit all rights and privileges to exhibit at any future Otsego County Fair and forfeit any premium monies, trophies, special awards, youth livestock sales, and/or other considerations earned. The exhibitor shall assume full responsibility for any violation of regulations related to drugs and medications to include withdrawal times and the condemnation of carcasses due to drug rule/regulation violations.
12. All dogs must be kept on a leash.  No dogs are allowed in the livestock building, small animal area or in the carnival area near the food.  A $10.00 fine will be issued to violators.
13. Bike riding, skate boarding, roller skating and roller blading are strictly prohibited.
14. NO 4 Wheelers, except for the Fair Board of Directors or their designee.
15. Golf carts will be used in the proper manner, by Fair Board of Directors ONLY or designee, no one will stand or ride on the back of the cart, no cart will carry more passengers than there are seats for those passengers. All carts are to be fueled up first thing in the morning.
16. Everyone must have a gate pass or pay the daily gate fee to get on the grounds. If you do not have your pass you will pay the gate fee, NO EXCUSES. A gate pass does not admit the whole family or a car load. A gate pass is for one person ONLY.
17. No guns, knives or live ammo to be displayed by any exhibitor.
18. PRIVATE PROPERTY............Absolutely NO concealed weapons or open carry of firearms.
19. Any Fair book changes to be considered for the following year must be submitted by March 1st to the Fair Office.
20.  All appropriate forms must accompany signed entry form, that you have read all Otsego County Fair rules.

    ENTRIES, PREMIUMS & JUDGING

21. The Fair reserves the right to pro-rate premiums if funding is not received from the State of Michigan or if Fair receipts are insufficient to pay expenses.
22. Competition is open to all unless otherwise specified.
23. Junior Youth and Youth Exhibitors must compute age as of January 1st. (Example: If you were 8 on or before January 1st, then you are a 8 year old even if you turn 9 during the year)
24. Department Age Requirements:
    1. Youth 5 to 8 years of age must enter in Junior Youth Classes ONLY. Junior Youth in the wrong Department will be disqualified.
    2. Youth 9 to 18 years of age or 19 if they have just graduated from high school during the fair year must enter in the Youth Department. Youth in the wrong Department will be disqualified.
    3. Open Department is for adults and 18 year olds that do not qualify to enter in the Youth Department ONLY.  Youth may not enter in any of the odd numbered departments. Youth entered in any of the odd numbered Departments will be disqualified. 
    4. The exception to rule 23c:  Youth may enter in Department 15 the Tri County Open Horse Show 21 and Youth may also enter in Department 15, Section 004, Class number 2706, Reining which is open to all ages, except 5-8 year olds.
25. Youth 5 to 8 year old exhibitors are non-competitive classes and will receive participation ribbons only. Exhibitor will not pay an entry fee and no premiums will be paid.
26. All exhibitors must file their entry forms, money and necessary forms with the fair office by the deadline which is printed on the entry form in the back of the book. Make checks payable to Otsego County Fair. Please mail entries to: Otsego County Fair, P.O. Box 500, Gaylord, Michigan 49734-0500.
27. Application for entries in all Departments must be made on printed entry forms and must be in full compliance with the printed instructions in this Premium Book. Only one (1) entry per class number can be entered. All entry fees must accompany the entry form. No animal or article shall compete for more than one premium except horses.
28. Entry fees for each Department are listed in each Department. No refund of any entry fees unless stated.
29. Exhibitors must pick up their entry tags on Sunday, August 21, 2011 starting at noon and place entry tags on entries. Entries must be in the proper buildings no later than 3:00 p.m. or they will not be judged. All miss-tagged exhibits will be disqualified.
30. In all categories other than animal, antique or tractor, the exhibitor must be the creator of the article, item or project.
31. Names are not allowed on projects or they will be disqualified.
32. Articles and animals incorrectly entered will be disqualified.
33. If entry is disqualified, premiums will be forfeited.
34. Items marked N/S (No Show) on judges sheet will not be paid a premium regardless if it has a ribbon attached.
35. No premiums will be awarded unless the judge shall deem the animal or articles merit, i.e. the judge does not have to place a blue, red, or white ribbon on any one entry.
36. The Fair Board of Directors reserves the right to withhold premiums in instances where applicable rules and regulation have not been complied with, or where fraud or deception is evident. Any person, who attempts to deceive, interferes with the judging or commits fraud in any way shall forfeit any and all awards won in any and all divisions of the fair.
37. ALL Youth and Junior Youth (5-8 year olds) Exhibits in Needlework, Culinary Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Antiques, Agriculture, Floriculture, Horticulture, and Educational Projects will talk to the judge during the evaluation process on entry day. If you are unable to talk with the judge on entry day your items will receive a participation ribbon ONLY and will be put on display the week of the fair.
38. Judges shall not have a management or supervisory role at the fair or exposition. There shall not be an ongoing and direct relationship between the judge and any employee or exhibitor within class or classes being judged.
39. No person is allowed to act as a judge of any class in which he or she is a competitor and no premium will be paid to anyone in any way trying to influence the decision of the judges.
40. No person shall be allowed to interfere with the judge during judging.
41. There will absolutely be NO judging in advance of fair judging schedule.
42. All exhibit buildings will remain open daily August 22-26, 2011, from noon until 11:00 p.m. and August 27, 2011 until 10:00 p.m.
43. Social Security numbers must be provided if you earn $600.00 or more, before premium checks are given out.
44. Premiums will be designed as follows:
    • First Premium...............Blue Ribbon
    • Second Premium..........Red Ribbon
    • Third Premium...............White Ribbon
45. All errors in premium statement or checks or omissions must be reported within 45 days after the close of Fair week!
46. Premium checks should be cashed within 90 days; checks not cashed within 1 year from issue date shall be forfeited to the Otsego County Fair donation fund.
47. Premium checks will be mailed as soon as possible after the close of the Fair.
48. No animal and/or exhibit will be removed from the fair before 10:00 p.m. Saturday, August 27, 2011. Alternate release time will be on Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Please use the Shipp St. gate. Any exhibitor removing their exhibit(s) before the fair ends will forfeit all premium monies, unless written permission is given by the area chairperson.

    CAMPING

49. Please put all garbage in the dumpsters.
50. Camping fee does not include gate entry fee.
51. ONLY two cars per compsite will be allowed; all others to be parked in a designated area.
52. Campfires must be elevated and protected.  Do not empty your campfires on the ground; dispose of properly.  ABSOLUTELY NO GROUND FIRES!

    GENERAL LIVESTOCK, SMALL ANIMAL & HORSE

53. No smoking is allowed in any of the animal barns or exhibit buildings.
54. A veterinarian will be on call; but not necessarily on the grounds.
55. All animals are to be kept clean, fed and watered by exhibitor. The cleaning of barns shall be done before 9:00 a.m.
56. Feed to be furnished by Exhibitor.

    HORSE AREA

57. Leaders will be given a copy of the "Otsego County Fair Horse Rules" or pick up a at the Fair Office.
58. Exhibitors, parents and leaders will be asked to sign a code of conduct.
59. Stallions may be shown by exhibitors 19 and over during Fair week.  However, NO stallions to be stalled on the grounds overnight during fair week with the exception of the Tri County Open Horse Show.
60. The Youth/Open Horse Show will follow the rulesand regulations and be judged in accordance with Michigan State 4-H Horse Show Rules with the exception of helmet requirement which is strongly recommended but not required for adults in the Open Horse Show. Another exception being that stallions any age may be shown, but not stalled overnight, by exhibitors 19 and older.
61. Stalls and areas MUST be left in the same condition that you found them. Clean up fees of $20 will be assessed for messy areas and stalls. The fee will be deducted from your premium check should your area and stall be left dirty.
62. An "excessive damage" fee of $50.00 will be assessed to horses causing damages to stalls such as holes larger than a 2 foot by 2 foot area.
63. Tack Stalls are for tack ONLY; if tack stall is used for anything but tack, you will lose the stall. The stall will go into the lottery and no refund will be given for the tack stall.
64. Horse stalls will be reserved in the following order: Youth, Mounted Division, and Youth Parents, followed by other Adults. Youth will be given one tack stall for every four to five horses; if they want a tack stall and provided they are available. Club or Exhibitor will be charged for tack stalls. If there are not enough stalls after Youth, Mounted Division and Youth Parents have been placed; the order will be by lottery (names drawn for stalls). All stalls must be paid for in order to reserve; if you reserved a stall and your name is not drawn from the lottery a refund will be given.
65. To reserve a horse stall the following is required: horse stall reservation form, number of stalls, a copy of coggins paperwork for each stall reserved and payment. NO stalls will be reserved without the coggins. Example: If three stalls are being reserved then three coggins must accompany reservation form. If only two coggins accompany then you will only get two stalls. There are no refunds on horse stalls except for those that are in the lottery for a stall.
66. The Fair will follow the State on requiring COGGINS.........If the State requires coggins, then the Fair will require coggins and if the State doen't require coggins, then the Fair will not require coggins.

    LIVESTOCK & SMALL ANIMAL

67. Youth may not show in 4-H/OCYLP Market classes unless they are a registered 4-H or OCYLP Member. Youth may show in all other Youth Departments, Sections or Classes.
68. No premiums are paid for showmanship.
69. 4-H/OCYLP members must be the owner of market animals.
70. Youth Livestock Exhibitors must follow 4-H/OCYLP rules along with all Fair rules.

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