2008

GENERAL RULES FOR ALL

JUNIOR NON-LIVESTOCK SHOWS

OFFICER-IN-CHARGE: NINA DYER
JUDGES: MARY BETH OGLESBY
AUCTION: DEBI HARRELL
“SWEET SHOP”: SHERRI BELL
DISPLAY COORDINATOR: MELISSA WILCOXSON

CHECK-IN FOR ALL JUNIOR SHOWS: SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH – 7:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

PRELIMINARY JUDGING: SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH –11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

EXHIBITORS WHO DIDN’T MAKE FINALS PICK UP GOODS, SATURDAY,
MARCH 29 TH - 2:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

EXHIBITORS WHO MADE TOP TWENTY NEED TO PICK UP ITEMS ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST - FROM 5:00 P.M.. – 7:00 P.M.*** - THOSE ITEMS NOT PICKED UP AT THIS TIME BECOME PROPERTY OF MCFA.

NOTE: WE ARE ASKING EXHIBITORS TO DONATE THEIR FOOD ITEMS (with the exception of Grand through 20TH place winners**) TO OUR “SWEET SHOP”, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE EXHIBIT AREA. THE ITEMS WILL BE SOLD AND PROCEEDS WILL BENEFIT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR. WE ASK EACH EXHIBITOR TO TAKE THEIR OWN FOOD ITEM(S) TO THE “SWEET SHOP”.

FINAL JUDGING: SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH – 4:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH – 8:00 P.M.
AUCTION: MONDAY, MARCH 31ST – 7:00 P.M.

**EXHIBITORS PLACING GRAND, RESERVE, 3RD OR 4TH PLACE WILL HAVE THEIR ITEMS DISPLAYED IN THE DISPLAY CASES.

****EXHIBITORS PLACING 5TH PLACE THROUGH 20TH PLACE WILL HAVE THEIR ITEMS DISPLAYED IN THE EXHIBIT BUILDING. THESE ITEMS WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST . ITEMS WILL BE DISPLAYED WITH TENT CARD SHOWING EXHIBITOR’S NAME, CLUB AND DESCRIPTION OF ITEM OR NAME OF BAKED GOOD. ALL ITEMS MUST BE PICKED UP ON TUESDAY, APRIL 1ST FROM 5:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. NO EXCEPTIONS. *** BAKED GOODS WILL BE DISPOSED OF, SO IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR THOSE EXHIBITORS TO PICK UP THEIR ITEMS. NO “FOR SALE” SIGNS MAY BE PLACED ON ITEMS ON DISPLAY, NOR DURING SHOW.

NOTE: BAKED GOODS WILL BE DISPLAYED WITH ONLY SLICE OR PIECES. EXHIBITORS PLACING 5TH THROUGH 20TH WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR WHOLE PIE, CAKE, ETC. AND RIBBONS WITH THEM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS.

IF AN ITEM DOES NOT FIT THE DIMENSIONS OF THE DISPLAY CASE, BECAUSE OF SECURITY RISKS, THE ITEM WILL NOT BE DISPLAYED; HOWEVER, TENT CARD WITH EXHIBITORS NAME, CLUB AND DESCRIPTION OF ITEM WILL BE DISPLAYED.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION RESERVES TO ITS OFFICERS AND/OR BOARD OF DIRECTORS THE FINAL AND ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO INTERPRET THESE RULES AND REGULATIONS AS SET FORTH FROM PAGE TO PAGE AND ARBITRARILY SETTLE AND DETERMINE ALL MATTERS, QUESTIONS AND DIFFERENCES IN REGARD THERETO OR OTHERWISE ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTION WITH, OR INCIDENT TO THE SHOW.

The Officers and/or Board of Directors reserves the right to amend or add to these rules as it, in its judgment, may deem advisable.

Any exhibitor and/or his or her representative who violates any of the General Rules or special rules as published in these rules will forfeit all privileges and premiums won.

In order to participate in the Montgomery County Fair, each exhibitor and his/her immediate family member(s), parent(s), guardian(s), and/or representative(s), committeemen and volunteers shall be in good standing with the Montgomery County Fair Association. In the event any exhibitor, his/her immediate family member(s), parent(s), guardian(s), and/or representative(s), committeemen and volunteers owe money to the Montgomery County Fair Association for any reason whatsoever, said exhibitor, committeemen and volunteers shall not be allowed to enter, and/or participate in the Montgomery County Fair, Show and/or Auction.

THE FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR ALL JR. NON-LIVESTOCK SHOWS HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

1. The Show will open March 28, 2008 unless postponed by the Officers and/or Board of Directors which they hereby claim the right to do, either in part or whole, from any cause whatsoever, for the general good of all concerned.

2. The Montgomery County Fair Association, its Board of Directors, Officers, Officer-in-Charge or Committeemen will not be liable for any personal injuries, damages, fire, theft, accident, etc.

3. Each exhibitors, exhibitor’s immediate family member(s), parent(s), guardian(s) and/orrepresentative(s), committeemen, volunteers, spectators and/or visitors, violating and/or not cooperating with security personnel, officers, officer-in-charge, division chairmen, committeemen and/or officials of the Fair in all matters, policy, these rules and regulations, parking, etc., may not be allowed to enter, and/or participate; may have their entries cancelled, and/or may be ordered to exit and/or remove their exhibit(s) from the grounds immediately, and/or may forfeit all rights and privileges to enter, participate and/or exhibit in the future at the Montgomery County Fair.

4. Entrants and Exhibitors must be members in good standing of one of the following:

1) FFA – must have attended 50% of local FFA Chapter meetings from September through February. 2) 4-H enrolled members must have attended a minimum of three (3) local 4-H Club meetings from September through February. This does not include project meetings.
3) FHA – must be an active member in this school related club.
4) Enrolled in a public, parochial or private school class during the entire current year, which is related to the entry. Must be in 3rd grade or 9 years old as of September 1st to enter.
5) May be a Home Educated Student, but must be a member of a Montgomery County 4-H Club and subject to Rule #2 above. Only Home Educated students, whom would have attended a private, public or parochial school in the county, are eligible to show.

5. GENERAL EXCEPTION: Any entrant or exhibitor who resides in Montgomery County (Residence to mean student who lives with parents, parent or legal guardian and sleeps in Montgomery County five or more nights each week), but because of school district boundaries, student is required to attend public school outside Montgomery County, or if a student attends a private or specialized school outside the county but resides in Montgomery County (see above), student must be a member in good standing and attended a minimum of 50% of club meetings of a Montgomery County 4-H Club or FFA.

Any entrant or exhibitor who resides outside Montgomery County (Residence to mean student who lives with parents, parent or legal guardian and sleeps outside Montgomery County five or more nights each week), but because of school district boundaries, student is required to attend public school inside Montgomery County, student must be a member in good standing and attended a minimum of 50% of club meetings of a Montgomery County 4-H Club or FFA.

Students will be allowed to participate by completing a Special General Exception application for official acceptance. This application must be received in the Montgomery County Fair Office, P.O. Box 869, Conroe, Texas 77305 by December 18, 2007. Official acceptance requires approval by the Fair Office.

6. Any individual serving as Chairman, Assistant Chairman or Judge cannot allow his/her children to participate in the show in which he serves as Chairman, Assistant or Judge. Any individual serving as a committeeman (worker) cannot be present at the judging of the show in which he is working if his children are participating in that show, nor can he judge that show. NO CHILDREN ALLOWED DURING JUDGING. NO TEACHERS OR LEADERS OF EXHIBITORS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE AREA DURING JUDGING.

THE ENTRY FORM MUST HAVE THE SIGNATURE OF A GUARDIAN OR PARENT, TEACHER AND SPONSOR. ENTRY CARDS MUST BE COMPLETELY FILLED OUT.

7. Exhibits must be entered only by the individual making or creating it.

8. Previous entries (excluding foods) in the Montgomery County Fair are not eligible for re-entry.

9. No “For Sale” Signs may be placed on items on display, nor during show.

10. Individuals may sell only one exhibit in the Auction, retaining ONLY the trophy for that particular exhibit. An individual placing more than one sale item in the Auction must notify the Show Chairman and Officer-in-Charge immediately after judging of the Show which exhibit to place in the Sale. THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE PRESENT IN PERSON DURING THE AUCTION.
EXCEPTION: A substitute showman may be allowed if the individual is participating in the Market Barrow Show at the time of the Auction. Grand Champion individuals who auctioned at the 2007 Montgomery County Fair cannot enter that particular section of the division in the Home Economics division or cannot enter the Show (Needlecrafts, Photography, Horticulture, Fine Arts) in which they received their auction proceeds for the 2007 Fair. In Handicraft they cannot enter the same division in which they received their Grand Champion auction proceeds.

11. Each individual entering the Junior Shows must complete a separate registration form for each ITEM entered. Return the form(s) to: Montgomery County Fair Association, P.O. Box 869, Conroe, Texas 77305 or deliver them to the Fair Office at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 29, 2008. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. An entry fee of $10.00 per ITEM ENTERED will be charged – NO REFUNDS. All exhibitors will receive an armband which entitles them free entry to the Fairgrounds from March 28 – March 30, 2008. There is a $5.00 replacement fee for a lost armband. Checks are to be made payable to the Montgomery County Fair Association.

12. All exhibits will be watched and every precaution will be taken to protect them, but in no case will the Montgomery County Fair Association be held responsible for loss, theft, breakage or damage.

13. Exhibits will be judged and awarded Blue (Excellent), Red (Good) and White (Fair) Ribbons. At the discretion of the judges, finalist rosettes and honorable mention rosettes will be presented.

*14. Articles must be picked up between 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 th by presentation of Exhibitor’s tag that will be issued at registration. Baked goods not picked up by 3:00 p.m. will be sold in the Sweet Shop.

15. Special rules also apply for each of the following Junior Shows: Fine Arts, Photography, Horticulture, Home Economics, Needlecraft and Handicraft.

16. IT IS MANDATORY THAT EXHIBITOR BRING SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND ORIGINAL THANK YOU NOTE TO HIS/HER BUYER TO THE FAIR OFFICE, AND THE FAIR OFFICE WILL MAIL THANK YOU LETTER AND BUYER’S PICTURES. FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENTS MUST ALSO HAVE A SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR TAX I.D. NUMBER BEFORE CHECK WILL BE RELEASED. CHECKS WILL BE RELEASED BEGINNING MONDAY, MAY 19TH. ALL CHECKS MUST BE PICKED UP BY MONDAY, JUNE 9TH BY 5:00 P.M.

17. Ten percent (10%) will be deducted from the Exhibitor’s check for any and all monies received through the Fair Association. In addition, cost of pictures will be deducted from the Exhibitor’s check.

18. For the 2008 Fair, auction items will be auctioned in the following order: Grand Photography, Grand Yeast Bread, Grand Cake Made From Mix, Grand Horticulture, Grand Canned Food, Grand Quick Bread, Grand Pie, Grand Cake Made from Scratch, Grand Cookies, Grand Candy, Grand Decorated Cake, Grand Handicraft I, Grand Fine Art, Grand Handicraft II, Grand Needlecraft, Reserve Photography, Reserve Yeast Bread, Reserve Cake Made From Mix, Reserve Horticulture, Reserve Canned Food, Reserve Quick Bread, Reserve Pie, Reserve Cake Made from Scratch, Reserve Cookies, Reserve Candy, Reserve Decorated Cake, Reserve Handicraft I, Reserve Fine Art, Reserve Handicraft II, Reserve Needlecraft, 3rd Photography, 3rd Yeast Bread, 3rd Cake Made From Mix, 3rd Horticulture, 3rd Canned Food, 3rd Quick Bread, 3rd Pie, 3rd Cake Made from Scratch, 3rd Cookies, 3rd Candy, 3rd Decorated Cake, 3rd Handicraft I, 3rd Fine Art, 3rd Handicraft II, 3rd Needlecraft, 4th Photography, 4th Yeast Bread, 4th Cake Made From Mix, 4th Horticulture, 4th Canned Food, 4th Quick Bread, 4th Pie, 4th Cake Made from Scratch, 4th Cookies, 4th Candy, 4th Decorated Cake, 4th Handicraft I, 4th Fine Art, 4th Handicraft II and 4th Needlecraft.

19. An exhibitor removing his/her entry prior to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 29th will automatically forfeit his/her ribbon. NO EXCEPTIONS.

20. An exhibitor cannot enter and/or sell an item in the Special Education Auction and in the Homemaking Auction.

21. Exhibitor or one (1) member of the immediate family must bring and enter projects. No one else will be permitted into the Special Events Area.

22. If an Exhibit should win Grand, Reserve, 3rd or 4th place and the exhibit does not fit the dimensions of the display case, because of security problems, the item will not be displayed. Specific dimensions are listed for each show.

23. Should a family member purchase their own child’s (whether by blood, marriage, adoption, foster child, exchange student, grandchild, ward, etc.) exhibit, said exhibit must be paid for before the exhibitor will receive his/her check from the Fair Office.

24. ANY EXHIBITOR WITH ANY SPECIAL NEEDS OR CONCERNS MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTICE OF SAME TO THE FAIR OFFICE NO LATER THAN TWO (2) WEEKS BEFORE THE FAIR EVENT BEGINS SO THAT APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS, IF ANY, CAN BE CONSIDERED.

25. All protests to any ruling and/or to any provision of these rules and regulations set forth from Page to Page must be in writing and be accompanied by a deposit of $50.00 which will be forfeited if protest is not sustained. Such protest must state plainly the cause of complaint or appeal, and must be delivered to the Fair Office and notice given to the Officer-in-Charge and/or Division chairman immediately after occasion for such protest. Protests will be accepted prior to judging. Judging procedures will not be interrupted for protest investigation. Depending on the basis of the protest, a decision may be withheld until complete investigation is done. All protests will be determined by a special committee made up of five members consisting of the Officer-in-Charge, Division chairman, and three other members from the rules committee and/or Board of Directors. Every exhibitor, in consideration of his entry being accepted by the Montgomery County Fair Association, agrees that the conclusion reached by the protest special committee shall be final, without recourse against the Montgomery County Fair Association, its Board of Directors, Officer-in-Charge, Division Chairmen, Committeemen, etc. (See General Provisions set forth on page ).