The Muskegon County Fair is open to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, or disabilities.

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CLUB ELIGIBILITY RULES AND REQUIREMENTS

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1. All Clubs must register with the Muskegon County Fair Board by March 1st to be eligible to participate in the Muskegon County Fair. Clubs must be registered by December 1st for members to be able to register Market Beef.

 

2. The registration form is available online on the Muskegon County Fair website. Leaders and participants must register and submit their forms online

 

3. The Code of Conduct form must be signed electronically by both exhibitor and parent of exhibitor and submitted with registration form.

 

4. Club leaders must comply and have background checks run and submitted with the registration form.

 

5. Exhibitors are not allowed to show through more than one club throughout the youth Livestock Divisions. No dual club enrolling in Livestock Divisions is allowed. Example #1: No youth member may show swine in 4-H club and beef in FFA. Example #2: No youth member may show swine in a 4-H Club and show beef in an independent fair club.

 

6. All fees and deadlines must be met with exhibitor’s club name clearly printed on all registration forms.

 

7. Exhibitors participating in Livestock projects must wear a Muskegon County Fair shirt during showing of their project and while performing barn duties. Exhibitors may inquire at the Fair Office as to how to get these shirts or get an order form from the fairgrounds website.

 

8. Any club members wanting to participate that did not pre-register will only be eligible for Open Classes. Market Classes are not available to Open Classes.

 

9. It is each club’s responsibility to know all rules and deadlines and comply with them.

 

10. All clubs participating in the Muskegon County Fair are subject to all rules posted in this fair book.

 

11. One mandatory orientation meeting will be required for a minimum of one representative/leader from each club to attend in the fall to receive Fair information and registration deadlines.

 

EXHIBITOR ELIGIBILITY

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1. Youth classes for the livestock project areas are open to youth exhibitors 5 years of age to 19 years of age as of January 1st of the current Fair Year.

 

2. Youth classes for the demonstration and educational (Inanimate) project areas are open to youth exhibitors 5 years of age to 19 years of age as of January 1st of the Fair Year. These project areas are also open to participants 26 years of age or younger as of January 1st of the fair year who has been determined eligible for special education services by the local school district.

 

3. Age eligibility of an exhibitor in the youth division shall be as follows: a) Age is determined as of January 1 of the current fair year unless otherwise stated. The only exception to this rule will be those divisions that provide the Explorer Program. They will follow their own guidelines. Sr. Teen 15 & Older; Jr. Teen 13- 14; Pre-Teen 11-12; Novice 7-10; Explorer 5-6. Open class and Open Community Arts shall be open to all individuals.

 

4. Failure to comply with all of the exhibitor rules will result in ineligibility. Superintendents, in cooperation with the Livestock Committee, will make decisions of disqualification when rules are broken.

 

5. Youth attending or participating in the Muskegon County Fair are their best exhibit. Youth must conduct themselves properly at all times or may forfeit all rights and privileges.

 

6. Exhibitor must perform assigned duties; if exhibitor fails to perform the assigned duties, a fine will be charged to the exhibitor to be determined by the superintendent not to exceed $10. All Exhibitors must sign up for a time slot for Hospitality Service. This will require being in the barn for the time allotted, welcoming all visitors and being available to answer any questions.

 

7. Judges or Fair Officials can disqualify any exhibit that does not meet all of the rules or affects the quality of the displays in a negative manner. Please consult the project superintendent if you have any concerns about an exhibit.

 

8. Exhibits must have been made, grown, or raised by the exhibitor during the current year. All exhibits must be shown by named exhibitor, unassisted. If conflicting exhibition, superintendents will approve any changes.

 

9. Certain projects (such as certain animals) have individual deadlines for registration. There is also an overall Stall/Pen Reservation Fee deadline of $25 due March 1st , including both market and breeding that is to be accompanied with each exhibitor.

 

10. All exhibits must be on display throughout the entire time of fair. In a situation where security of an exhibit is questioned, the exhibitor may ask for early release of project from the Inanimate Superintendent. However, a collection of pictures and an explanation of how the project was made and any ribbons earned will be left on display. Early removal of any project may cause exhibitor to forfeit the privilege of returning to the fair the following year. The Superintendent and the Rules Committee will make this decision. 6

 

11. Baked Goods Auction participants must be 5 years old as of January 1st the current fair year. Explorers are eligible to auction baked goods.

 

FAIR CLASS ENTRY ONLINE AND JUDGING

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1. To enter the Muskegon County Fair, you must fill out the Fair Software Entry Online to register each of your livestock, baked goods, inanimates, and shooting sports projects, separately for each project. Links to the registration forms can be found on the fairgrounds website at www.muskegonfairgrounds.com

 

2. Exhibitors will be able to enter only the classes at Fair that were registered in the Fair Software Entry Online.

 

3. Exhibitors must check in projects as well as check out at release time with the division superintendent. Early removal of exhibits may result in forfeiting privilege to return the following year in that division.

 

4. It is the exhibitors’ responsibility to be knowledgeable of the rules and regulations, obtainable at www.muskegonfairgrounds.com.

 

5. An exhibitor may not receive more than one award in any class.

 

6. Youth will be limited to two (2) livestock auction projects. This includes any combination of large animals and small animals. One Baked Goods item may be auctioned in addition to two (2) market livestock projects.

 

7. Judging sheets will be the only means for recording awards received in all exhibits. It is the responsibility of the Division Superintendent to have the judge sign the judging sheets and get them turned into the fair office. Judges’ checks will be the responsibility of the superintendents.

 

8. The Danish system of judging is used. “A” will be awarded to those who do outstanding work, “B” to those who do good work and “C” to those who do fair work. The Judges decision is final.

 

9. Ribbons will not be replaced. Once a ribbon is rewarded, it becomes the responsibility of the recipient.

 

10. Ribbons and rosettes will be awarded for all classifications and places listed for each class unless otherwise specified. Championship classes must have competition. If there is no competition, judges may use their discretion in awarding trophies.

 

11. If a class is divided for any reason, duplicate awards will not be given. There must be a run off to determine winners.

 

12. Protests must be in writing and filed with the Fair Association secretary 45 days from the close of fair, accompanied by a protest fee of $5.00, which will be returned if the protest is sustained by the Board of Directors. All protests will be considered at a time set up by the Fair Board of Directors and all interested parties will be notified. The Board will make a ruling no more than 5 days of the protest meeting. Procedure to reach within 45 days to MDA.

 

13. ALL Exhibitors are required to sign an agreement/contract waiver that their animals are drug free. However, the livestock division superintendent(s) reserve the right to randomly drug test any animal on exhibit at the Muskegon County Fair.

 

14. All youth Exhibitors must follow the dress code established in the exhibitor manual. JEANS/PANTS MUST HAVE NO HOLES OR RIPS.

 

15. Late Registration – Registrations may be submitted up to (7) days beyond the deadline, unless a mandatory weigh-in is scheduled prior to the 7-day grace period, then the registration is due before weigh in. A late fee of $100 will be assessed for all late registrations submitted within the 7-day grace period. No registrations will be allowed beyond the 7-day grace period.