1.  The Hardin County Fair Office is located on the fairgrounds.  General information, entry information, a telephone and supplies are located in this office.
2. Campers, visitors, exhibitors and others are requested to leave directions as to their location on the grounds at the Secretary's Office.
3. The Fair will be open to visitors from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. each day of the Fair.
4. The display buildings will remain open Wed., 3-9 p.m., Thurs., Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Exhibits need to be removed from the buildings at 6 p.m., Sunday.

RULES AND REGULATIONS
EXHIBITORS ARE REQUESTED TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH ALL THE RULES OF THE FAIR APPLICABLE TO THEIR EXHIBITS.

VIOLATION OF RULES
Any person who violates any of the following or special rules will forfeit all privileges and premiums and be subject to such penalty as the governing Board may order.

INTERPRETATION OF RULES
1.  The Hardin County Agricultural Society reserves to its Executive Board the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and regulations and arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions, and differences in regard hereto, or otherwise arising out of, connected with, or incident to the Fair.
2.  The Fair Association will not be responsible for errors on this website, but should any occur, same will be interpreted by the Executive Board.

AMENDING RULES
   1.       The Hardin County Agricultural Society reserves the right to amend or add to these rules as the Executive Committee in its judgment may determine.

RIGHTS OF THE BOARD

1. The directors of the Hardin County Agricultural Society reserve the right to cancel the fair or a portion of the fair and withdraw any or all premiums should any unforeseen circumstance occur, which in the judgment of the directors would make it advisable to do so. All premiums offered and contracts made are made with this understanding.
2. In the event of conflict in general and special rules, the latter will govern.
3. The Fair Association reserves the right to limit the number of entries if space thereof is unavailable. The Association will endeavor to arrange for space for all qualified exhibitors. However, if present accommodations are exhausted, the Association reserves the right to close entries at that time.
4. If, for any reason whatsoever, the general receipts of the Hardin County Agricultural Society are reduced or diminished to such an extent after all expenses are paid that all premiums cannot be paid in full, the said Society reserves the right to prorate premiums among the successful competitors.

LIABILITY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Hardin County Agricultural Society will use diligence to insure the safety of stock or articles entered for exhibition after their arrival and placement, but under no circumstances will it be responsible for any loss, injury, or damage done, or arising from any animal or articles on exhibition, and the exhibitor shall indemnify the Hardin County Agricultural Society thereof against all legal or other proceedings in regard thereto.
2. It is understood that the Hardin County Agricultural Society will use every precaution in the management of the livestock exhibiting, races, entertainment, and in any other activities in the Fairgrounds. It is further understood that said Association will in no way be responsible for any damage resulting from such activities, or from injuries of any kind whatsoever to either the exhibitor, exhibits or visitors attending the Fair.
3. The grounds and buildings will be under the protection of our day and night watchmen.
4. Individuals should check their own insurance policies regarding off-farm liability.

ARTICLES ENTERED BY EXPRESS OR MAIL
     Small articles entered may be sent by express or mailed to the Secretary, but in no case will such packages be received or placed on exhibition until all charges are prepaid. Entries for exhibits intended to be sent either by express or mail should be made in ample time before the closing date to enable the clerks to record entries and mail entry tags to exhibitors, which tags must be securely attached each and every article or sample before being placed inside the package. Exhibitors should at the time of making entries indicate how and by what express companies articles will be sent, and whether they desire same to be returned.  
     The Fair Association will in no case assume or pay for transportation charges on livestock or articles sent for exhibit.

FIRMS OR CORPORATIONS
Exhibitor's ticket will be made out in the name of the person or firm in whose name the entry is made and is not transferable.

Should an exhibitor, firm or corporation enter an animal or article in any name other than that of a bona fide owner, or attempt to perpetuate a fraud in the misrepresenting of any fact or in the exhibition of said animal or article, the entry thus made shall not be allowed to compete for, or receive any premiums, and said person or persons may, at the option of the Board, be barred from further showing, and any of the premiums previously awarded be forfeited.

GROUND LEASES, SPACES AND BUILDINGS
All ground leases or space contracts, unless otherwise specified will expire with the close of the Fair each year, and all temporarily buildings, frames, booths, etc. must be removed within 15 days after Fair closes; otherwise they will become the property of the Hardin County Agricultural Society.

Space including stalls and pens assigned and not occupied by 9:00 p.m. of the first day of the Fair will be forfeited, as well as, all fees previously paid.

No persons shall be permitted to distribute advertising matter upon the grounds except from their places of business or exhibit.

REFRESHMENT STANDS, LUNCH BOOTHS AND OTHERS
All refreshment stands, lunch booths, or other stands must be substantial in structure and neat in appearance. They must be supplied with, and sell only good, wholesome food, and pure, honest goods, at a reasonable price, such price to be in a conspicuous place and approved by the Fair management.

CONCESSIONS AND PRIVILEGES
The Hardin County Agricultural Society authorizes the letting of only such privileges or concessions as are required to supply the necessary wants of the people, or that may add to their comfort, convenience or pleasure, but under no circumstances will privileges of a questionable nature, or of a demoralizing tendency be let, or in any manner tolerated upon the grounds, or in the buildings; nor will any privileges be permitted where the business is conducted in other than a legitimate and tradeline manner.

The Hardin County Agricultural Society will use every precaution to guard against extortion in any form practiced upon the patrons of the Fair. The violation of this rule by any concessionaire will cause the forfeiture of any contract, money paid, or expulsion from the grounds as management may direct.

Purchasers of privileges must keep their spaces in a sanitary condition by removing therefrom any filth, refuse and placing the same in the garbage can provided by the management where the sanitarian department employees may get to it with ease.

Each concessionaire must confine himself to the space assigned. Failure to do so will submit him to forfeiture of his privilege, without reimbursement.

Concessionaires and exhibitors must pay for electric current used and for connection for same. All current used for light power, etc. during the period of the Fair will be collected for by the Secretary.

SUPERINTENDENTS
It is the duty of the Superintendent to be on the grounds early in the morning of the first and each succeeding day of the Fair. They are to be ready to arrange the animals and articles entered for exhibition so as to exhibit to the best advantage to the spectators, as well as, to the judges.

The Superintendent shall have complete charge of assigning stalls and pens. No pens will be considered taken until paid for.

Each Superintendent will give instructions to the awarding judge before latter enters upon his or her duties.

It shall be the duty of each Superintendent at the close of the Fair to make a detailed report to the Secretary of the expenses incurred by him/her in his/her department.

JUDGES
No person who is an exhibitor can act as Judge in a class or lot in which he or she is showing.

The Judges are required to read carefully the general rules and all special rules under the head of the department or class in which they are to serve; and especially note and mark those rules bearing on the classes to be adjudicated by them. Ignorance of rules is inexcusable with a Judge.

Judges may withhold First Premium, if, in their judgment the best exhibit in the class is not worthy of a prize. It is a goal of the Fair Association to encourage exhibitors to attain increasing excellence in the development of their exhibits. Therefore, a judge may only award ribbons that are earned or if warranted, none at all. For example, if the highest quality in a class is third premium, that is what the judge awards. First and second premium then, would not be given.

The judges and persons acting as clerk to the Judge must use special care, after award has been made, to see that the same is properly entered in the Award Book, for it is upon this entry that awards are made. Fill in awards as required upon the forms used.

The Hardin County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) will not be liable for any errors made by clerks in placing Exhibitor's numbers receiving awards in Judges' books. All premiums will be paid as shown in the books.

The Judges and Superintendent of the Department must sign the Award Book at the close of each class, immediately after all awards in said class have been made, before delivering to the Secretary.

UNWORTHY EXHIBITS
Judges must not award prizes to an unworthy exhibit. It is the intention of the Association that no premium or distinction of any kind shall be given any animal or article that is not deserving. This rule must be strictly adhered to whether there be competition or not.

METHOD OF AWARDING

1. No premium will be awarded to any entry that has not been properly entered or classified.
2. Entry fees will be used to pay premiums.
3. Questions by a judge concerning the regularity of an entry or the right of any animal or article to compete in any lot shall be reported to the superintendent in charge for a ruling.
4. The superintendents must observe and enforce all rules governing exhibits in their departments.
5. When the meaning or application of a rule is challenged or is in doubt, the superintendent in charge shall interpret the rule or its application. This ruling is to be recorded in writing along with a description of the challenge. Submit this information to the fair office when Award Books are returned to the fair office.
6. The cost of re-issuance of a premium check will be charged to the exhibitor.

DECISION OF THE JUDGES FINAL
The decision of the Judge shall be final in all cases, except where mistakes, fraud, misrepresentation, or collusion, not discovered at the time of the award is apparent. In such cases, the case may be appealed to the Executive Committee from whose decision there can be no appeal.  
The decision of the official veterinarian and Judge as to the soundness of an animal shall be final.

PROTEST
When a protest is made as to the eligibility of an animal or article to compete in any class, it must be made in writing, signed and filed with the Secretary before noon of the day following the one on which the class was shown, accompanied by a $50 cash deposit. The deposit will be forfeited if the protest is not sustained. All expenses of proof must be paid by the party filing the protest.

APPEALS
No complaint or appeal based upon the statement that the Judge or Judges are incompetent, or have overlooked an animal or article, will be considered by the management.

The right of an exhibitor to appeal from the decision of a Judge to the Fair Association will lie only when it is charged that the award has been made in violation of the rules governing the exhibit; or when it is charged with the decision of the Judge has been influenced, or interfered with by another.

Appeals from the decision of a Judge or Superintendent in charge must be made in writing and must contain specific charges, stating at length the facts relied upon, or the rule violated, and naming the witnesses and their addresses by whom proof is to be made.

A question of dispute or differences not provided for under those rules shall be referred to the Executive Committee whose decision shall be final.

PREMIUMS AND AWARDS  

1.      Competition for premiums in Open Classes is open to the State of Iowa unless otherwise stated.

2. Competition for premiums in 4-H and FFA classes is limited to youth enrolled in the Hardin County FFA and 4-H organizations. Youth must be in grades 4-12. Some divisions require no entry fees. In these divisions no premium is paid. Youth in grades K-3 (4-H program) do not receive competition ribbons or premium.

Premium awards are made and premium checks drawn only upon evidence contained in the Judges' Award Books. Premium stickers or ribbons attached to exhibits will not be accepted as evidence that articles are entitled to premium payment.

All animals entered must be exhibited in the class in which they are entered. At the call of each class by the Superintendent, all stock failing to appear on call will be reported to the Secretary.

Special prizes will not be given for classes that do not conform to the regular classification of the department in which they belong, unless for urgent reasons satisfactory to the Secretary and Superintendent of the Department in which they are offered.

Checks not cashed by December 31, 2009 will be considered forfeited to the Hardin County Agricultural Society.

GENERAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Entry must be made out on printed forms and in accordance with printed instructions on same. Entry blanks may be obtained from the Secretary of the Fair Association, this website, and from the County Extension Office. All Junior Livestock entries must be made on 4-H - FFA Entry Blank.  

Age Divisions

*Entry list for all K-3rd grade and Junior (4-H & FFA) and Open Departments must be mailed to Hardin County Extension Office by June 12. A late entry fee of $10 will be charged for 4-H entries beginning June 13 thru June 19. Entries postmarked or hand delivered to the Extension Office after June 20 will not be allowed to enter.

No animals or articles will be allowed to compete for cash premiums that are not named and numbered in premium list. Animals or articles not listed may be displayed upon arrival of the Department Superintendent. A request may be made to the Extension 4-H and Youth Committee to make provisions considering adding or eliminating classes for future years.

Any animal or article entered in the wrong class must be changed to the proper class by the Secretary's Office before showing, or on order of the Secretary will be ruled out. Under no conditions will entries in additional classes, or substitutions, be permitted on preparation day.

After having properly entered their animals or articles, exhibitors must make delivery to the Superintendent of the Department, so that their exhibits may be in the right places and properly ticketed at the time specified by another section of the general or in the special rule governing the department or division in which entries were made.

Exhibitors are required to attend to their animals or articles during the fair.

Gate keepers and security police may detain any person or persons leaving the fairgrounds with any animal or static exhibit before release time. If early release is necessary, an early release statement signed by the Secretary will allow passage through the gate.

LIVESTOCK EXHIBITION REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible for competition, whether singly or in groups, animals must be bona fide property of exhibitors, and all animals entered for competition, except where otherwise specified, must be owned by exhibitor at the time of making entry. Registry Certificates of ownership or transfer must be produced, if required, showing the exhibitor to be the owner.

Livestock owned jointly, except where otherwise specified, must be shown in only one individual's name, and must be considered as one entry. Animals from such entries can be shown by only one individual. (Exception: Horses special rule of dual ownership - see horse rules.)

Exhibitors making entries and not exhibiting shall forfeit all fees paid for stalls and pen space. Space may be reassigned. No refunds will be made for any reason, except by action of the Executive Committee on a case by case basis.

Exhibitors shall not display Ribbons or other premium markings previously won until after the Judges have passed awards in that class.

*Parents are not allowed in the show ring or at the judges table when their children are the class - except if an unsafe or emergency situation occurs.

All livestock must remain in place until 7:00 p.m. on the closing day of the Fair, Sunday, July 12, except stock sold.

UNAUTHORIZED WITHDRAWAL OF EXHIBITS
1st OFFENSE - Premiums will be forfeited and a one year ban on showing an exhibit at the Fair will be imposed.

2nd OFFENSE AND ANY THEREAFTER - Permanent ban on showing and forfeit of premiums.  

Written permission for early withdrawal must be obtained from Department Superintendent and presented to fair secretary.

ASSIGNMENT OF STALLS AND PENS
Stalls and pens not occupied the first day of the fair will be forfeited, as well as fees paid.

Assignments will be made by the Superintendent in charge of the department, including reassignment of stalls and pens not occupied by exhibition livestock. No refunds.

STALLS AND PEN FEES