General Rules

General Rules and Regulations

1. All entries are made with the distinct understanding that the Fulton County Fair Association is not responsible for any loss or damage which may occur to any animal, article, or person during the fair. Care will be used in handling livestock to prevent injury to man or beast, but the above mentioned organization and its board members will not be responsible should an accident occur.

 2. All entries must be made in the name or names of owner or owners of animals and articles. All livestock exhibitors, if called upon, must show proof of ownership of not less than 60 days before the date of showing and owners of registered animals must present registration certificate, or proof thereof, if called upon.

 3. All livestock must be pre-registered by July 25, 2008. Entry forms are available online at www.fultoncountyfair.org, at the Fulton County Extension Office or may be requested by calling the Fulton County Fair Association (telephone (870) 895-2491). Entries will be assigned a pen or stall number prior to check-in day.

 4. Livestock exhibitors must furnish feed, feed troughs, and water containers for their animals.

 5. The chairman of departments shall in no case make known exhibitors name until after judging is complete.

 6. All disputes and misunderstanding shall be settled by the chairman of the department in which they occur or by the County Fair Board Executive Committee.

 7. Judging of all exhibits will be conducted by competent judges in their respective departments. No person who is a relative of any exhibitor will be allowed to judge any entry of such relative. Judges will be from out-of-the county.

 8. Exhibitors in the home department must be residents of Fulton County or belong to a Fulton County 4-H club or Extension Homemaker club. Livestock exhibits are open to out-of-county persons. An entry fee of $10.00 per animal will be charged to out-of-county exhibitors.

 9. Premium checks should be picked up at the Fulton County Extension Office and will be available on September 10. Exhibits removed before official check-out time will forfeit premium money. Premiums will be paid on a point basis. The value of the points will be determined by the number of entries. Premiums will be paid on the basis of records for each department. The judge's decision will be final. All premium checks must be cashed by December 31, 2008 or they will be void.

 10. Only purebred, pureblood (one purebred parent) livestock or animals equal to Breed Association Herd Book quality are admitted to the fair. (Poultry, rabbits and commercial and market classes are exempt).

 11. The open class will include all adult entries. Youth and junior exhibitors (not over 18 years of age, single and not ever married) will use the same classes as adults but will not compete against the adults.

 12. All livestock exhibited must be handled by owners or their authorized representative; otherwise the animal will be disqualified. Any animal failing to be exhibited before the judge, unless otherwise granted permission, is automatically disqualified. All livestock must be halter broke or shown in pen classes.

 13. Health regulations are printed in the fair tabloid and on the Fulton County Fair website and are issued by the Livestock & Poultry Commission. Health certificates are required. In the event a disease is detected, the owner will be asked to remove the animal from the fair. In case of dispute, fair officials will have authority to call a veterinarian at the expense of the owner. The Fulton County Fair Association reserves the right to have a blood and urine laboratory analysis made for any market animals at the county fair. Any exhibitor administering a drug to an animal which would render the carcass unfit for human consumption or any exhibitor of an animal producing an analysis indicating the presence of an unapproved drug that can result in a quantitative or qualitative change in the characteristic of the animal will be required to return all premium money and could be banned from further competition at the county fair. Their name and lab analysis will be submitted to the USDA for further investigation and possible prosecution. Any animal receiving medication for any life threatening disease or illness must be registered at the time they are entered in the fair.

14. Livestock entries will be limited to two animals per class per exhibitor with the exception of goats and sheep. Goats and sheep will be limited to four animals per junior exhibitor and two animals for open (adult) exhibitors because of space limitations.

 15. All Fulton County 4-H club and FFA members who make livestock entries will be eligible to compete for the Showmanship Awards. Judging will be on their ability to handle the animal, grooming of the animal, and conduct and appearance of the showman.

 16. Fulton County youth exhibitors will be eligible to compete for the Arnold Cheek Award. This award will be awarded to the youth exhibitor earning the most points in the livestock department. Fulton County youth are eligible for the Herdsman Awards. These awards will be presented to youth who do the best job of taking care of their animal (s) and keeps the pen or stall clean during the fair.

Check-in and Check-out Times

 17. Home Department items, field crops and horticulture, educational exhibits and commercial exhibits are to be checked in between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 31. Food Preparation exhibits only will be accepted from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 1 if the exhibitor prefers to bring them in just before judging. Beef, dairy and swine exhibits can be checked in from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 1. Poultry and rabbits can be checked in from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 1. The required Health Papers must be checked by a Livestock & Poultry Commission Technician before the animals go in the barns.

 18. Livestock check-out time is Saturday, August 4 at 7:00 p.m. with the exception of the animals purchased at the Junior Livestock Auction. The buyer has the option of taking the animal out after the sale. Check-out time for family living department and horticulture exhibits will be from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 5. Family living exhibitors who wish to send their exhibits to the North Central Arkansas District Fair should notify fair officials. The Fulton County Fair Association will not be responsible for exhibits left after check-out time on Sunday unless they are going to the district fair.

Judging Schedule

 19. Flowers and horticulture exhibits will be judged Tuesday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m. Judging of all other family living exhibits will be Wednesday, August 1 at 9:30 a.m. The exhibits building will be closed until 2:00 p.m. for judging. Judging of the poultry and rabbits will be Thursday, August 2 at 9:00 a.m. Judging of Sheep and Goats will be Thursday, August 2 at 10:00 a.m. Swine judging will be Thursday, August 2 at 6:00 p.m.
Dairy and Beef Cattle will be judged Friday, August 3 at 10:00 a.m.

Photos of Grand and Reserve Champion Winners

 20. Photos of Best of Show winners in the family living department will be made at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 4. Photos of Grand and Reserve Champion Winners in the livestock department will be made at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 4. It is important that all winners be present for pictures.