General Information

Each exhibitor in classes A, B, C, D, F, and I,  will be required to buy an Exhibitor's ticket for $5.00, which will be purchased at the time of entry. 

Passes will be issued to persons renting booths or spaces and will be given a season pass at the time of payment for the space.  Payment for spaces and booths must be made on Monday of the fair. 

Lost items may be claimed at the fair office and the association is not responsible for lost or damaged property during the fair. 

Alcoholic beverages are not sold or served on the fairgrounds.

No vehicles beyond the barricades after 5:00 pm. or during harness racing. 

Compliments

Free admission to the fair will be given to the following persons:  ordained ministers from a local church, residents of Clyde Choate Mental Health and Development Center and shelter care residents of Union County (who will be admitted free on Tuesday of the fair), and Presidents and Secretaries of other fairs. Children will be admitted free on the first Saturday of the fair.

General Rules for Exhibitors

1.  The management of the SIFA reserves to its executive committee the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and regulations and settle all matters in question and differences that may arise in connection with holding, managing, or promoting the fair.  The superintendent of each department will have charge of the department.  But the executive committee of this association is hereby vested with full authority to conserve all rules and regulations of this Association.  

2.  The judge's decision will be final, unless complaint can show fraud or other irregularity in placing the awards. 

3.  A protest on an award must be made in writing accompanied by an affidavit setting for the grounds for protesting the award and a deposit of $25.00 accompanying the protest.  In the event of the protest being sustained the $25.00 shall be forfeited to the Association. 

4. Every article and animal exhibited during the fair will be under the control of the Association and every possible precaution will be taken for the safekeeping of the same, but will not be responsible for loss or damage that may occur.

5.  Animals and articles that are removed without consent of the President or state inspector, before the end of the fair will lose any premium award.

6.  No one entering any class shall be allowed to ask about or see any other entries in the class he or she is entering.

7.  Influencing judges will not be allowed and if an exhibitor does not abide by the judge's decision, the premium will be forfeited.

8.  The name of the exhibitor shall not appear on the entry tag or in sight of the judge.

9.  Exhibitor's checks will be available in the fair office on Sunday after the close of the fair, from 1:00 pm, until 3:00 pm.  Classes A, C, E, and F checks will be available in the fair office from 5:00 pm. until 6:00 pm on Thursday.  All exhibited articles must be claimed when premiums checks are distributed on Sunday.  All checks need to be cashed as soon as possible after the fair. 

10.  Premium checks not picked up on the Sunday after the close of the fair will be mailed if arrangements have been made.

11. The Association reserves the right to withdraw any premium offered for good cause at the time of exhibition.

12.  Advertisement will not be allowed on the grounds during the fair unless authorized by the Association.

13.  Entry fees, stall rent and exhibitor's tickets are to be paid when entries are made.  Entry forms need to have addresses, phone numbers, a social security number, and current e-mail address.

14.  No organization or individual shall in any way use the name of the Union County Fair without the written permission of the Union County Fair board of directors.

15.  Social Security numbers must be provided for all total premiums exceeding $600.00

16.  Open and Junior registration will be taken on Friday before the fair from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.  (Do not bring entries at this time)  Open show registration will also be held on Saturday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm and on Monday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm.  Exhibits may be placed in the Exhibit Building from 9:00 am until 6:00 pm on Monday.

17.  Junior entries and registration, Classes N, P and Ages 5-8 only, will be taken on Saturday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.  Exhibit items for these classes and the Ages 5-8 division need to be in place before 5:00 pm on Saturday. 

18.  Exhibits, which have been erroneously entered, will be transferred to the proper class for judging.

Rules Pertaining to Classes

1.  In all classes where animals are shown under full blood headings, the judge or awarding committee shall require exhibitors to show certificates of registration of the animal exhibited, giving volume, page and number.

2.  No animal will be allowed to run at large on the grounds.  A violation of this rule will subject the stock to expulsion.

3.  The age of any animal shall be computed for the first day January of the year in which he was foaled or born.

4.  Exhibitors of animals for premiums must have their stock ready for the exhibition at the appointed time as stated in the program.  If failing to comply with this rule, after notification by the superintendent or marshal, the exhibitor shall then be ruled out of the competition.

5.  Exhibitors may enter any number of animals or articles in the fair.

6.  All horses must have a current Coggins test and health papers.

Judges and Awards

The superintendent of classes shall have a judge for each class, who will award premiums in the class to which he/she is assigned, unless otherwise specified by the executive committee.  the superintendent of classes shall have supervision of all the animals or articles on exhibition in the respective classes and the judge of each class shall affix the proper award when the awards are made, to wit:  Blue for first premium; red for second premium; and white for the third premium.  the superintendent shall have charge of all the books of their classes and when the awards are made and duly assigned and certified by the judge of each class, shall return the same to the secretary promptly.

No one shall be allowed to act as judge in the class or ring in which he/she exhibits.  Only superintendent and judges are allowed during judging.

In Departments J, K, L, M, and O, if there is no competition in the class, the judge will award the exhibit with top placing in the class.  If the judge deems the exhibit to be obscene or offensive, it can be disqualified and marked in the judge's book as such.   When the judge has made his/her award in the ring, he shall report to the marshal, who shall proclaim the name of the owner.  The superintendent shall report a complete list of awards to the secretary.  All work exhibited must be from the current year.

The superintendent will receive the books for each class in the fair office before actual judging takes place, and when the judging is finished, the judging book is returned promptly to the fair office.