General Project 4-H Rules

General Livestock 4-H Rules

1. All 4-H members must abide by the regulations governing 4-H projects in Grand or Summit Counties to be eligible to show. Only FFA members eligible to compete under State 4-H/FFA rules will be eligible to compete in this division.

2. Livestock entries are due to the Extension Office by 4:00 pm July 7, 2023. All entries shall be made in the fair management program online.  Animals who are not entered will not be allowed to check into fair.

3. Market livestock exhibits must remain in the barns until the release time of Sunday between 3 & 4 pm.. Livestock should be removed, with stall area cleaned and torn down by 5:00 pm. Livestock may be released early with the expressed permission of their barn superintendent, a fair board member, or extension director. Horse and breeding animals are required to be in place by show time and are not required to remain on the fairgrounds except for rabbits, poultry, and fowl breeding. Animals that are sick or unsafe may be sent home at any point.

4.  All 4-H poultry and fowl must be weighed and in place by 6pm on Tuesday; breeding rabbit must be in place by 8am on Tuesday. All other 4-H market animals must be in place by 12:30pm on Wednesday of fair week.

5. Should it become necessary to administer medications of any kind at the fair, the  superintendent shall be notified and shall supervise the treatment.

6. All 4-H/FFA exhibitors must comply with the USDA Wholesome Meat Act and the IAFE Code of show ring ethics. The IAFE Code of show ring ethics will be read and signed by all livestock exhibitors before entering animals for fair. Icing of animals or towels immersed in ice will not be allowed. The use of hotshots is prohibited. Exhibitors will forfeit all premiums, trophies, sale monies, and awards if found in violation of these rules.

7. Exhibitors are responsible for care and feeding of livestock while on the fairgrounds. The fair board has designated a time between 6:00 am and 9:00 am as well as 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm as feeding and cleaning times for livestock. All animals on the fairground shall be cared for during these times. Alternative bedding or matting must be cleaned daily. If stalls are not cleaned daily by noon, a $25 per day fine may be withheld from premium money, at the discretion of the barn superintendent. A water container, with water must be visible
and available for watering on a regular basis in each penned/stalled area at all times.

8. Additional classes may be added to the class schedule if the superintendent deems them necessary.

9. Members must show their own animals unless they have two or more animals in the same class. In these circumstances, another Grand or Summit County 4-H/FFA member is permitted to show the extra animal(s). Exceptions to this rule for injury, illness, etc., must be made prior to the show.

10. All animals must be clean and dry before weigh-in, lambs must be shorn, and hog ear tags must be clean.

11. Any animal entered into a breeding class, of any species, may not be shown in Market classes at the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo.

12. Intact males (Beef, Sheep, Goats, and Hogs) are not eligible for MPFR Market classes.

13. A formal protest must be made in writing to the Protest Committee on the same day of the alleged infraction. Written protests must state plainly the cause of the complaint or appeal and be accompanied by a $50 fee. If a veterinary exam or other testing is required, fees incurred above $50 must be paid by the protester. Protests shall use the following protocol (after each step, if the issue is not resolved, the protester may choose to pursue the next step): 

1. Bring written protest to Sale Committee or Show Superintendent. $50 charge

2. Bring written protest to the Protest Committee consisting of the Species Superintendent, Fair Board President, Superintendent of Area, Extension Agent, Sale Committee Representative. $50 charge.

3. Bring written protest to the Fair Board Executive Committee. $50 charge

14. All livestock placing first or second in a market class shall show for champion and reserve champion with the following exception: If an entrant wishes to withdraw, they shall forfeit all prizes and monies won by that animal and others in that class shall be moved up one placing. If an animal is withdrawn, the superintendent should be notified immediately, prior to the lineup of the championship drive.

15. The second-place animal in a class from which the champion was selected is eligible to show for reserve champion.

16. All 4-H and FFA members must show their own project animals in showmanship and Round Robin classes.

17. 4-H members will be required to sign, review, practice, and place on file at the Extension office a copy of the livestock rules to participate in the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo.

18. 4-H and FFA livestock, horse, and dog record books are due the first Friday in September. If a member does not complete a record book after exhibiting the project, the member cannot enroll in the same project the following year. A complete record book is determined by scoring 70% or better and turned in on or before the due date.

19. Unmanageable Animals: The Superintendent and/or judge may disqualify any animal deemed unmanageable, with the Executive Fair Board member’s approvals.

20. Horns: Horns must be tipped, blunt, or removed on all goats before arrival on the grounds. Removal of horns on grounds is NOT permitted. All market beef must be dehorned. Any re-growth of horns should be rasped and made presentable for the show.

  21. Enrollment Deadlines: To participate in the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo a 4-H/FFA member must be enrolled by May 1st of the current year. Other deadlines for participation in projects may exist (i.e., Market Beef tag in dates are earlier).

22. 4-H and FFA members must be in good standing with their respective association, this shall be determined by the CSU Extension Office or FFA Advisor, to be eligible to show at the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo in 4-H/FFA events.

23. 4-H youth exhibitors will identify market livestock at their perspective winter or spring market animal tag-in. There is no limit to the number of animals identified in the spring or winter tag-in; although each family may only declare one “family” animal per species at their perspective spring or winter market animal tag-in. There is no limit to the number of animals an exhibitor may own and/or identify, however, the following limits apply to the number of animals exhibited at the fair. A youth may only bring 3 market swine and two pens of market poultry, fowl, and/or game birds to exhibit at the Middle Park Fair & Rodeo. If youth tag-in a “family animal” for beef, they must have brand papers on the family animal (only) written in all the 4-H member’s names who will share the animal. Youth must have brand papers on all their 4-H market beef written in their names and available at tag-in day in January. The declaration of ownership at fair time of the family animal must be done at the weigh-in at fair or earlier. The 4-H/FFA member who takes ownership of the animal must include the “family animal” in their respective record book as their animal.

24. Middle Park Fair & Rodeo has set a minimum and maximum show weights for market livestock projects. Exhibitors will weigh-in their animals at the designated time for their species. If the animal does not meet the minimum weight or exceeds the maximum weight limit, they will be given one weigh back immediately following the other animals in the species. 

Turkey Weights: hens must be 13-30 lbs., and toms must be 19-30 lbs., and neither may be more than 20 weeks old.

 Goat weights: Minimum weight will be 55lbs with no maximum, and a maximum of 4 market pens per member.

 Lamb weights: Minimum weight will be 100lbs with no maximum. 4 market pens maximum per member.  

Swine weights: Minimum weight will be 225lbs and maximum weight of 295lbs. 

Beef weights: Minimum weight will be 950lbs and no maximum. 

Rabbit weights: Minimum weight will be 3.5lbs with a maximum weight of 5.5lbs for all market classes and a maximum of 3 market pens per member.  

25. Replacement Animals: In the event an exhibitor’s only animal in a species dies prior to the fair, the youth may replace that animal before the given deadlines with the approval of the Extension Director, Fair Board and Species Superintendent. The deadline for replacing an animal due to mortality are 60 days before show for sheep, goats, and pigs; and 120 days for market beef. 

  26. Awards, premiums, and sale checks will be available for pick up at the Extension Office when the Sale Committee determines that enough funds have been collected to cover payments. It is the responsibility of the contestant to know if they have received an award. No payments will be released to exhibitor until proof of thank you card has been sent.