Open Class Rules 2007

Benton County Fair           July 31 - August 5, 2007

Exhibition of Livestock and Poultry in Minnesota
Summary of State Rules

Requirements for Livestock and Poultry Originating from Minnesota Must Meet Minnesota Requirements

Livestock or poultry know by the exhibitor to have an infectious, communicable diseaseor to have been exposed to in infectious, communicable disease, or to be from a quarantined herd or flockmay not be entered in an exhibition. Warts and ringwormare considered communicable diseases. Therefore, livestock affected by these diseases cannot be exhibited. Astatement from a veterinarian that an animal is being treated for these diseases is not acceptable.

All livestock will be inspected by the Official Veterinarian on the opening day of the exhibition and daily during the exhibition. The Official Veterinarian will order the immediate removal to a quarantine facility or removal from the exhibition premises of any livestock with symptoms of infectious or communicable diseases. Animals placed in a quarantine facility must remain there until removed from the exhibition premises. They may not enter a show ring. This includes livestock with warts or ringworm.

All testing must be conducted prior to the exhibition, and record of the test results on a test chart or intrastate Health Certificate must accompany the tested animals.

Livestock and poultry entered in a petting exhibit are not exempt from the exhibition rules if the animals are from more than one farm or there are other animals at the exhibit.

Swine: Pseudorabies - Negative pseudorabies test on all swine exhibited made within 30 days prior to the opening date of the exhibition.

Horses: All horses must be tested for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) for admittance to the fair. Blood test done within last 12 months. Proof of test must be presented upon entrance to grounds.

Dogs: If over 6 months of age, must be accompanied by a Certificate of Rabies Vaccin-ation issued by a licensed veterinarian. The dog must be immunized by or under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian with a vaccine licensed by the USDA and used in accordance with the label and be within the duration period for that vaccine.

Poultry (Except Waterfowl and Pigeons): Accompanied by an official form identifying the fowl by using a leg or wire band and with a record of a negative test for pullorum-typhoid conducted within 90 days prior to entry to the exhibition or a record of origin from parent stock tested negative within 12 months prior to entry to the exhibition.

Turkeys must be tested at a laboratory for typhimurium and mycoplasmas or have a statement of origin if less than 5 months old.

Requirements for Livestock and Poultry Originating from States Other Than Minnesota

Cattle, Swine, Sheep, Goats and Poultry: Originating from states other than Minnesota must meet the Minnesota Importation requirements in addition to the requirements outlined in this summary. Health certificates must list the Minnesota Exhibition as consignee, and will be accepted if examination and tests are conducted within 90 days prior to the exhibition except swine pseudorabies tests must be made within 30 days prior to the exhibition.

Horses and Dogs: Requirements are the same for those originating from Minnesota.

Local Fair Board Options: The exhibition management may adopt more but not less restrictive health requirements than required by state rules.

General Rules

All late livestock entries will be charged double pen fees. All entries for livestock close Monday, July 30, 2007.

1. The Benton County Agricultural Society reserves the right to reject or remove any exhibit or individual from the Benton County Fairgrounds.
2. No animals or article found on exhibition will be permitted to be taken away before 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the Fair, under penalty of forfeiture of premium, except by permission of the Benton County Fair Secretary.
3. No animal or article deemed unworthy shall be awarded a premium. Judges may award and grade of premiums offered according to the merit of the animal or article.
4. All articles other than livestock must be entered before 7:00 p.m. on the entry day. Exhibitors of fresh fruits, flowers and food may change their displays each morning of the Fair, but no change shall be made while these departments are being judged. Judging starts at 8:30 in all departments.
5. All exhibitors with animals must be sure that their stock is entered in the proper class. It will be the duty of the judge to rule out any animals not answering the entry and no change or alteration will be permitted after the entries are placed in the hands of the clerk.
6. Premiums not cashed within sixty (60) days after the Fair will be considered forfeited to the society.
7. The Association will take every recaution in its power for preservation of articles and stock on exhibition, but will not be responsible for loss by theft, fire or damage that may occur in the delivery, exhibition or removal of exhibits.
8. All livestock shown to be purebreds unless stated otherwise. All pedigrees of purebred animals must be shown to the superintendent of the division in which entry is made if requested.
9. Season parking tickets are sold at fair office or at the entrance to grounds.
10. No advertising of any kind shall be permitted on the grounds unless space is rented, unless ordered by the Board of Directors and signed by the Secretary.
11. The management will not be responsible for typographical errors in the list, but should any occur, same will be interpreted by the Executive Committee.
12. No article will be allowed to compete for cash premiums that is not named and numbered in the Premium List this year.
13. All livestock shown at the Fair is subject to the sanitary regulation of the State Livestock Board as explained at the head of each division.
14. Benton County residents exhibitors shall be given priority in limited entry classes.
15. If the receipts should prove insufficient to meet all demands, the Society reserves the right to first pay all bona fide expenses of the Fair and pay premiums prorated with the balance on hand.

Special Rules

The Ag-Craft Building will open:

• Tuesday, July 31: All exhibits must be entered between 10 AM - 7 PM.
• Wednesday: Building opens after judging is completed
• Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 11 AM - 10 PM
• Sunday: Noon - 5PM

All items must remain displayed until 5:00 p.m. on closing day of Fair. Failure to do so will mean forfeiture of premiums.

1. All items must be made, grown or prepared by exhibitor.
2. Junior Division Open Class entries are for individuals 9-16 years of age unless otherwise specified.
3. Youth Division Open Class entries are for individuals 8 years and younger.
4. No exhibitor can compete with himself.
5. All judging in above departments to be done on the designated day.
6. All exhibits must have been completed this past year.
7. Exhibits in these departments shall be in specified size jars, judge to have privilege of opening and sampling any exhibit.
8. Picking up Exhibits:
   1. Exhibits will be released on Sunday according to schedule below.
   2. I.D. and claim check will be required in order to pick up exhibit.

Special Rules Governing Committee

1. It shall be the duty of the Chairman of the judges, before proceeding to judge the articles entered in any class, to see that each article entered on the committee book is present and properly arranged and to notify the superintendent when the article is not found.
2. No person will be permitted to interfere with the committee members or judges while in the performance of their duties. In case of doubt as to their power, members of the committee will refer the matter to the Fair Secretary.
3. 1. Stalls will be provided at a charge of $2.00 per head for cattle. Pens will be provided for sheep and goats at $1.00 per head.
   2. Stall and pen fees must be paid in advance. Stall and pen fees will not be deducted from premium checks.
   3. Late entries will be charged double.
4. All appeal cases shall be settled by the executive committee at a future meeting when all parties interested shall be notified to appear.
5. Awards be deemed final, unless appealed from the protest filed with the Secretary before the close of the Fair.
6. No animal or article shall be entered in more than one class with these exceptions:
   1. In all divisions as one of the sweepstakes.
   2. An animal may compete in its regular class and also as one of a herd or pen.
7. Committees are requested to add to their respectable reports such notes and observations as may be deemed useful either with reference to article, animal, or herd, for use in conducting future exhibitions.
8. First premium, a blue ribbon; second, a red ribbon; third, a white ribbon.
9. No animal will be awarded a prize unless promptly brought into show ring when lot is called. Animals entered and not brought into the ring at the proper time, unless excused by the Superintendent, will be charged $3.00 per day for use of stall or pen as may be designated by the management, and all fees paid will be forfeited.
10. Judges shall give reasons for their decisions, embracing the value or desirable qualities of the animal or article to which premiums are awarded. Superintendents of departments will take special care to instruct all committees under their supervision of the importance of faithful observation on this rule.
11. Committees will be careful to put ribbons denoting the first, second and third premiums as they make their awards, and especially be careful that these ribbons and reports agree.
12. The Chairman of each committee, when handing in his report, shall assist the clerk in making correct copy of it, that there will be no mistake as to the meaning and intention of the committee.

Ag-Craft Exhibit Release Time

Exhibits will be released Sunday using the following schedule. Exhibits released by the first letter of the last name.

Identifcation and claim check required.

Fair Office: (320) 253-5649

The Benton County Agricultural Society reserves the right to reject or remove any exhibit or individual from the Benton County Fairgrounds.

Pen fees must accompany entries.

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