Junior Fair General Rules and Information
- Junior Fair Entries are due online by midnight, June 15. All instructions for online entries must be followed and all information requested provided by the entry deadline. If an exhibitor does not make entries by the stated deadline, he or she may pay a fee of $50 per class. Late entries along with payment must be submitted to the Senior Fair Board office within 14 days of the original deadline.
- An exhibitor is limited to two entries in any one class, except where otherwise stated in the individual class rules.
- Be sure to read the rules for specific classes and departments.
- Department superintendents of the Senior Fair Board, Junior Fair Board and adult advisors of the departments are responsible for the operation and conduct of their departments. Exhibitors must follow their policies.
- All precaution will be taken to prevent injury or theft of the exhibit, but the Fair Board will not be responsible for loss or damage.
Exhibitor Rules
- All 4-H members are eligible, but not required, to compete in Jr. Fair activities according to the project taken.
- The Preble County Junior Fair shall be composed of FFA, 4-H, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and FCCLA youth organizations of Preble County.
- Exhibitors in the Junior Fair must be active members of an official youth organization; must not have passed their 19th birthday as of January 1 of the year exhibiting and must have been enrolled by the organization’s deadline.
- An exhibitor may show the same article/animal in only one Junior Fair organization (FCCLA, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or FFA).
- All Junior Fair exhibitors, who wish to show in open class, must enter and show according to the rules of the Senior Division as stated under open class rules and regulations.
- Junior Fair members will not be required to purchase a membership ticket/weekly pass to exhibit recognized 4-H, FFA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and FCCLA projects.
- Any Junior Fair exhibitors removing their project or exhibit (includes livestock and non-livestock projects) before the specified release time will forfeit all awards and will not be permitted to exhibit at the Preble County Junior Fair the following year. Permission for early release must be requested by the exhibitor to the Senior Fair Board members of the department of which release is being requested. Permission may or may not be granted based on the nature and validity of the request.
- Exhibitors returning from Ohio State Fair participation, who missed their showmanship class, will show for their own showmanship grade on the next day or before the market show begins. They cannot compete for Showmanship age division placing.
- Exhibitors of livestock (including horses) requiring Preble County Junior Fair early release or permission for late arrival due to Ohio State Fair competition must provide a copy of the check in paperwork from the Ohio State Fair. Paperwork must be provided to the Fair Office within a week of the last day of the Preble County Fair. Failure to do so may result in the exhibitor not being able to show the next year.
- The personal conduct of Junior Fair exhibitors while at the Fair is the responsibility of the exhibitor’s parents or guardians. Junior Fair exhibitors and their families are expected to conduct themselves according to the Junior Fair Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is posted on both the Preble County Fair and OSU Extension websites.
- Exhibitors are not required to stay on the Fairgrounds at night. Exhibitors are permitted to stay overnight on the Fairgrounds with the approval of parent/guardian. The parents/guardians are responsible for providing overnight supervision.
- All Junior Fair exhibitors should wear Fair appropriate attire being modest in dress. Exhibitors should wear clothing appropriate for the species they show. Clean button-down shirts or club shirts with dress pants, clean jeans or skirts are allowable. Any exhibitor not following the dress code will not be allowed in the show ring. For clarification of what is appropriate per department rules - see a JFB member prior to show day. Some departments require specific attire.
Show Organization
- A Junior Fair exhibit must be shown by the exhibitor. If the exhibitor is entered in another Junior Fair Activity, another Preble County Fair exhibitor may exhibit for him/her except in Showmanship classes. In the case of serious illness or injury of an exhibitor, during the current project year, another Junior Fair exhibitor may show the ill or injured exhibitor’s animal.
- Where classes contain limited entries, the Department Committee in charge shall have the authority to combine classes. Champion and Reserve Champion trophies and rosettes for breed classes with limited entries may or may not be given. This will be determined by the Department Committee in charge and the judge.
- The date of January 1 of this year will be used where classes are broken according to the age of the exhibitor.
- Junior Fair exhibit space will be assigned by Junior Fair Board Members and Advisors. (All exhibits must be properly identified.)
- Exhibits shown in one junior fair class cannot be shown in any other junior fair class, except in case of showing for special awards and championship classes (example: if shown as “market animal” it cannot be shown as a breeding animal).
Exhibits
- All animals that are tagged in will be considered “family animals”. At the time of tagging or entry (whichever applies) families must designate specific animals to specific exhibitors. The family may assign an animal to a different child up until DUNF submission. Family is defined as those living in the same household.
- All non-livestock projects may not be removed before 3 pm on the last Saturday of the Fair.
- All Junior Fair livestock may begin moving in on Friday before Fair. Market and non-market livestock projects must be in place by 7 pm on Friday before Fair. Junior Fair non-livestock projects must be in place by 9 am on Friday before Fair.
- All exhibits shown must be part of the regular 4-H, FCCLA, Girl Scout, Boy Scout or FFA program (to include MVCTC) and must be owned wholly or in part by the exhibitor.
Junior Fair Protest Policy
- In case of any controversies (other than official judging), the decision of the Junior Fair Board will be final. With official judging, the judge’s decision is final.
- The Junior Fair Board can recall any award that was presented in error or where any broken rule or regulation is discovered.
- Protests must be made in writing, signed by party or parties making the protest, and filed with the Junior Fair Office by noon of the day following award, accompanied by a protest fee of $150 cash.
- The protest fee ($150) will be retained by the Preble County Junior Fair Board if the protest is not sustained. If the protest is sustained, the fee will be returned.
- The Junior Fair Board shall hear protests with the Superintendents of the Department involved and if necessary other people will be involved as designated by the Junior Fair Board. All protests will be considered at a time set by the Junior Fair Board and all parties will be notified.