MARKET LIVESTOCK RULES AND REGULATIONS TB TESTING REQUIREMENTS
All large animal species (beef, dairy, dairy feeder, sheep and swine) moving to a show, sale, or exhibition are required to have an official radio frequency identification device (RFID) ear tag. All goats and sheep must comply with the State regulations that pertain to that individual species and be properly tagged and identified including supporting TB testing paperwork for goats before unloading at fair weigh-in. Any questions, contact your superintendent.
2023-2024 Rules Committee: Katherine Squire (chairperson), Ben Bryant, Kapre Filhart, Trevor Bechtel Jeff Bluemer, Mike Lattimer
1. Read carefully the General Rules and Regulations listed online for all exhibitors. Failure to read and understand these rules does not count as an excuse for not complying with them.
2. Any grievances related to the following rules should be directed to the Rules Committee Chairperson. By joint agreement, they will determine the necessity of assembling the total committee to resolve the grievance.
3. All livestock must have been owned by the exhibitor and in his or her care since the first official weigh-in of the project year.
a. All livestock entries must be tagged by the appropriate superintendent. This is to be done by the first weigh-in day for each species.
b. Under special circumstances, (see specific species) exhibitors may replace animals due to the death or any other uncontrollable situation, but only with the approval of the superintendent of that species.
c. An Isabella County FFA animal may be weighed in as such with an in county exhibitor appointed prior to the first Sunday of fair.
4. 4-H and FFA members may show livestock in open class.
5. If an exhibitor has two animals in the same class at the same time, they may have another person, aged 8-19, show one of the animals. The exhibitor must show the other one.
6. Any animal brought to the fair must be duly entered in an appropriate class in the judge’s books and shown when called upon by the judge. Explanation - Exhibitor must show and sell their own animal when called upon, including all championship classes unless excused by their superintendent for medical or other emergency reasons. No exception or excuses will be made for exhibitors missing their class due to showing another species.
7.No animals will be allowed to run outside of the barn area including the midway, paved areas, and driving areas.
8. No livestock may be unloaded or placed on exhibit until all state health requirements for that species are met. Any animal with active ringworm and/or fungus will not be permitted to stay on fairgrounds.
9. Market animals will be weighed upon arrival at the fairgrounds to determine weight class for making entry and to establish rate-of-gain. All species of livestock will be weighed once for official weight. Ear tags or tattoos must correspond with records on file. All questions must be resolved at the time the animal is weighed.
10. Pedigree statements or registration papers to ascertain ownership or age of animal will be required from all exhibitors if requested by the Superintendent in charge. (Pertains to breeding stock only).
11. Exhibitors must furnish their own feed, water pails, and feed boxes.
a. Any medical needs of the animal(s) will be properly addressed at the owner’s expense or animal(s) must be removed from the fairgrounds.
b. Stables and pens will be provided for livestock and assigned by the Superintendent in charge.
c. Sawdust will be provided and used for bedding. (Fair management will establish bedding policy.)
d. All exhibitors are required to keep their stalls, pens, and exhibit areas clean and neat. Animals must be checked, fed and watered twice daily, minimum, by 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. No accumulation of manure is accepted.
e. All animals should be clean and well presented at all times.
f. Failure to do the above will result in a $20.00 charge per stall or pen per day. Money will be taken out of Livestock Producer’s check from the sale. Money will be placed in the building fund for the barns.
g. Exhibitors in violation of this rule will be posted in designated areas in respective barns.
h. Exhibitors having three or more violations with the above rules during fair week will result in the exhibitor being required to pick up his/her livestock fair check at the January meeting. If the issue is not resolved within 90 days of the January meeting, the exhibitor will forfeit his/her livestock sale check.
12. Livestock exhibitors will exhibit their animals for two distinctly different purposes, live animal evaluation and showmanship.
a. The live animal evaluation will be based on the individual merits of the animal and on breed type or market quality. Classes will be placed in descending order with ribbons given to all placings.
b. In the showmanship class all of the emphasis will be on the evaluation of the care, attention, training and preparation of the animal by the member and the member’s ability to properly display the animal. All exhibitors must participate in showmanship class.
13. If an exhibitor is unable to bring his/her animal to the fair due to death or medical reasons, the exhibitor may show another animal of the superintendent’s choice in showmanship class only.
14. Exhibitors must actively help with the fitting and grooming of their exhibit animal. Paid professional groomers are prohibited.
15. Exhibitors should be neat and clean while showing.
16. Champion awards will not be made unless exhibits are worthy.
17. Exhibitors are responsible for helping before fair setup, livestock sale setup, and with cleanup of exhibit area after livestock is released.
18. Exhibitors of all large animals must complete the project animal certification/care form found in back of the fair book.
19. The Isabella County Livestock Producer’s Association will have charge of the Livestock Sale.
20. In order to sell livestock at the fair, exhibitors must be a resident of Isabella County. Isabella County Livestock Producers will close its doors to all out of county exhibitors who wish to exhibit and sell large animals at our county fair unless they, or their sibling, has previously shown a large animal livestock species at the Isabella County Fair.
21. Exhibitors are limited to the consignment of one species of livestock unless the exhibitor receives more than one Champion, Reserve Champion or Rate of Gain Award for his or her exhibits.
a. Grand Champion, Reserve Champion and Rate of Gain Champion winners of the market shows must be sold if exhibitors and exhibits are approved by the Livestock Rules Committee. All Champions, including Rate of Gain Champions, must be in the weight limits except where the Champion or Reserve Champion Individual is part of a pen exhibit. The remainder of the exhibit may represent a second sale.
b. Isabella County youth exhibitors are limited to one large animal County Sale Program.
c. All livestock consignment to the sale will be sold for slaughter only, with the exception of dairy feeders. No heifer sales and no resales at the county fair.
d. Sale order for Beef and Dairy Feeders will be Champion Market, Reserve Champion Market, Rate of Gain Champion, Senior Champion Showman, Reserve Senior Champion Showman, Intermediate Champion Showman, Reserve Intermediate Champion Showman, Junior Champion Showman, Reserve Junior Champion Showman, Champion County Bred; remainder of sale will be based on market class placings.
Sale order for Sheep will be Champion, Champion Pen, Reserve Champion, Reserve Champion Pen, Rate of Gain Champion, Senior Champion Showman, Reserve Champion Senior Showman, Intermediate Champion Showman, Intermediate Reserve Champion Showman, Junior Champion Showman, Reserve Champion Junior Showman; remainder of sale will be based on market class placings.
Sale order for Swine will be Supreme Champion, Champion Barrow, Champion Gilt, Reserve Champion Barrow, Reserve Champion Gilt, Senior Champion Showman, Senior Reserve Champion Showman, Intermediate Champion Showman, Intermediate Reserve Champion Showman, Junior Champion Showman, and Junior Reserve Champion Showman.
22. An exhibitor may sell only one steer, or one dairy feeder, or one lamb or pen of lambs, or one hog or pen of hogs, except where the Champion or Reserve Champion individually is part of pen exhibit. The remainder of the exhibit may represent a second sale.
23. All exhibitors are responsible for getting their animals to the show and sale rings.
24. The Livestock Producers will deduct 6% of the sale: 4% will go to the promotion of the sale and 2% will go to the building fund.
25. Every exhibitor who sells an animal will have a photo taken immediately after the sale of their animal, cost to be deducted from their sale proceeds.
26. Injured, sick or unruly animals shall be removed from the fairgrounds at the discretion of the superintendents and/or Rules Committee.
27. The Livestock Rules Committee has the authority to reject any consignment of inferior quality.
28. Any discrepancies in the above rules will be settled by the Rules Committee. The committee’s decisions will supersede any rules printed in error.
29. Failure to comply with any of these regulations may mean forfeiture of sale privileges.
30. No release for livestock prior to 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
31. No livestock will be allowed to walk on pavement and near any food vendor.
32. Only animals that have been exhibited at the fair will be sold and shipped through Livestock Producers. Any exchanges of animals will be handled as buyer pick-up as scheduled by the buyer and is not the responsibility of the Livestock Producer’s Representative.
33. Stall decorations and exhibitor information may not be removed prior to 10 pm Saturday. Violations will result in a $20.00 fine. Money will be taken out of Livestock Producer’s check from the sale. Money will be placed in the building fund for the barns.