CALHOUN COUNTY FAIR LIVESTOCK SHOW

Section 1:  Exhibitor Eligibility

Junior Shows are restricted to Arkansas 4-H Club members or Arkansas FFA Members enrolled in projects they are exhibiting this current school year.

• Certification of eligibility may be required from the County Agent or FFA Advisor

• Exhibitors must be in good standing of the designated club

• Exhibitors must be at least 5 years of age but cannot have reached their 20th birthday by the opening day of the current year’s premium sale.

• Exhibitors may not show in a Junior Show any later than the fall after graduating from high school or receiving a GED certificate or its equivalent regardless of age.

• Exhibitors must reside within Calhoun County or attend Hampton Schools. State law restricts exhibitors from receiving premium point money in more than one county fair.

 

Section 2:  Entry Requirements

All livestock and poultry entries (including group and bred and owned classes) must be submitted online by Monday, September 1, 2025. A $10 entry fee per exhibitor will be required.

 

Late entries will be accepted for all livestock and poultry for additional fees. These must be submitted online no later than Monday, September 8, 2025. For 2025 absolutely NO entries will be accepted in person/on-site, except for Showmanship.

 

Commercial Poultry Exhibitors – Poultry Chain exhibitors must enter the Calhoun County Fair Livestock Show by entry deadlines. Ordering birds does not constitute a Calhoun County Fair entry.

 

Showmanship sign-ups will be done at the show.

 

Junior Department – Entry Fees

Entry Fee - (By Midnight, Monday, September 1) - $10

Late Entry Fee - (By Midnight, Monday, September 8 with $5 added late Fee) - $15

 

Registration of Animals: All exhibitors must fill out a Calhoun County Fair Livestock Registration form & contracts signed before July 15 of concurrent year, with the exception of Market Steers which is May 15 of the concurrent year.

• Forms can be picked up at the school from the FFA Advisor or at the County Extension Office from the Agent/ 4-H Leader.

• Forms should be returned to the above-mentioned leaders.

• Failure to register any animal and signing of contract will result in the inability to show said animal at the Calhoun County Fair.

• The only exception is single poultry and other fowl entries. They will be registered after blood testing before fair day.

 

Animal Inspections: As a condition for participation in the Calhoun County Fair Livestock Show, every exhibitor must agree to submit any animal entered by exhibitor to inspection by the 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator prior to the Fair and agrees to have such animal submitted to any tests as may be designated and requested by the 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator prior to the Fair.

• Animals exhibiting signs of warts or wool fungus will NOT be allowed to show, will be sent to quarantine or may be asked to leave the fairgrounds.

• The Calhoun County Fair reserves the right to have hair, tissue, blood, or urine laboratory analysis made on any animal entered for competition.

• The conclusions reached by the 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator prior to the Fair, as to whether an animal has been administered or given a substance or drug in violation of the rules or has not been properly withdrawn from approved drugs shall be final, without recourse against the Calhoun County Fair or show management.

• The Calhoun County Fair reserves the right to collect hair follicles, and/or perform a retinal scan which may be used to perform analysis to verify identification of an entry in the show using the DNA sample or retinal scan collected at the time of enrollment.

• Any, and all samples collected are the property of the Calhoun County Fair and may be compared with samples collected by other fairs or livestock shows to confirm entry identification.

• Any exhibits that test positive for performance altering substances in any preformed test consent to forfeiting awards/premiums and Junior Livestock sale monies, as well as future participation in Calhoun County Fair events.

 

Check-In of Animals: All exhibitors must have animals checked in with the Livestock Coordinator by the designated time.

• It is the sole responsibility of the exhibitor to assure their animal(s) are checked in at the appropriate time or to have made prior arrangements with their 4-H/ FFA Advisor and the Livestock Coordinator.

• Failure to follow any check in requirement will result in ineligibility to compete

• A representative from the State Vet’s office will be here to check health papers and animals must be checked in and have all required papers on hand.

• Livestock is not allowed on the fairgrounds until it has been inspected by a representative from the State Vet’s office. Animals must remain on trailers until they have been checked and cleared by the State Vet’s representative.

 

Section 3:  Calhoun County Fair Complex Use

Dogs are prohibited on fairgrounds; particularly in livestock exhibition areas except for service animals required by law. You will be asked to remove the dog from the premises and refusal may result in owner being asked to leave the fairgrounds.

 

Smoking is prohibited in all barns.

 

No alcoholic beverages are permitted on the fairgrounds.

 

Signs: Livestock exhibitors are permitted to display a sign over each exhibit or attach to the pen.

• Show management reserves the right to remove any signs deemed inappropriate.

• No commercial or advertising signs will be permitted.

• No signs may be nailed/screwed to walls or fences.

 

Grooming Chutes & Fitting Stands:

• Grooming chutes/fitting stands can be used ONLY in the grooming areas. Grooming areas will be designated by show management.

• No grooming chutes/fitting stands will be allowed in isles and/or walkways in the barns.

 

Feed & Bedding: Exhibitors are responsible for their own feed and bedding.​

• All isles and/or walkways in the barns must be free of exhibitor’s feed, hay, and/or bedding.

• It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to clean up the area after animals are released and return the livestock barn to its original condition. 

 

Section 4:  Show Rules

Control of Animals: Exhibitors must have complete control of their animals in the show ring at all times.  If, in the opinion of a show official, any animal is unruly to the point of endangering the other exhibitors or animals, that animal will be excused from the ring and disqualified.  All cattle must be shown with halters and be sufficiently gentle to be properly handled by one attendant on foot.  Parents/ Adults are not allowed in the show ring.  In case of disability, arrangements must be made prior to the show by the parent and FFA Advisor/ County Agent.  Special situations must be approved by show officials before the show.

 

Interpretations and Violations of Rules: The Calhoun County Fair reserves to its Livestock Committee the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions and differences in regard thereto, or otherwise arising out of or connected with, or incident to the Calhoun County Fair; and the right to amend, interpret or add to these rules as its judgement may determine.  An exhibitor who violates any of the rules will be subject to such penalty as the Livestock Committee may order.

 

Delinquent Acts: If an exhibitor is caught having any involvement in any delinquent act or being involved with a disqualified entry, they may be removed from the grounds forfeiting any further competition, awards, premiums, sale slots and/or proceeds.  Delinquent Acts include but are not limited to vandalism, use of alcohol or drugs, and aggressive or violent behavior.

 

Interference with Judges: An exhibitor shall not in any way, whether in person or by affiliation, interfere with the judge during adjudication at Calhoun County Fair or an Arkansas Livestock Show Association event in which the exhibition is participating. Such actions shall call for the Calhoun County Livestock show management to exclude said exhibitor from competition and/or from the show ring, as well as withholding of premiums that may have been awarded.

 

Prohibited Acts: The following actions are prohibited at the Calhoun County Fair.

• Do not tamper with any animal that you do not own.  Do not feed, water or give medication to an animal without permission from the owner, County Agent or FFA Advisor.

• The injection, use or administration of any drug to the animal that is prohibited by Federal, State or Local Law or any drug that is used in a manner prohibited by Federal, State or Local Law.

• The injection or internal or external administration of any product or material, whether gas, solid or liquid, to an animal for the purpose of deception, including concealing, enhancing, or transforming the true conformation, configuration, color, breed, condition or age or by making the animal appear sounder than would otherwise appear.

• Being found in possession of stomach pumping equipment. Treatment of severely sick or dehydrated animals must be pre-approved by the FFA Advisor, 4-H Leader or Livestock Coordinator.

• The administration, use or application of any drug or feed additive affecting the central nervous system.

• Any physical or physiological attempt to alter the natural musculature or weight by use of injections or ingested material not conductive to the continued health or marketability of bovine, sheep, swine or goat for deception.

• Violations of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions National Code of Show Ring Ethics (included at back of handbook).

• Violations of ownership requirements or Care and Custody rules listed in this handbook.  This includes the manipulation of documents or providing false statement as to affect ownership of an animal and its eligibility to be exhibited at the Calhoun County Fair.

 

Drenching: Drenching of animals using appropriate methods is allowed in designated areas including wash racks, tie-outs, and in grooming chutes/stands.

 

Exhibitor Responsibility: It is the sole responsibility of the Exhibitor to follow all the rules contained herein. Extent of knowledge on the part of the Exhibitor with regard to the animal being subject to any prohibited act is not relevant to any issue, and it shall not be a defense that a person or persons unknown subjected the animal to any prohibited act.

 

Penalties: An Exhibitor who violates any of the rules contained herein, or whose animal has been found to be in violation of the rules is subject to such penalties as the management may order, including but not limited to:

• Such animal being barred from competition at the current Calhoun County Fair.

• The exhibitor being barred from entering and/or competing at the Calhoun County Fair in the future.

• Awards and premiums being withheld.

 

Specific Rules may apply for individual shows and will be listed in the Livestock Handbook in appropriate locations.

 

 

Section 5:  Junior Division Special Rules

Dress Code for Show & Premium Sale: Junior Exhibitors will be required to wear appropriate attire, which is neat and clean, in the show ring and during the auction. Exhibitors must wear a suitable shirt that provides full coverage, ensuring no cleavage or inappropriate areas of skin are exposed, along with jeans and boots or appropriate leather footwear. No hats/head coverings or spurs will be allowed in the ring. During the premium sale, exhibitors are to wear the official premium sale shirt along with jeans and boots or appropriate leather footwear. Exhibitors are responsible for obtaining a premium sale shirt from your County Agent or FFA Advisor.
 

Ownership:

• Exhibitor must own the animals(s) being shown or be in partnership with the local Cattlemen’s Association where they will own the rights to showmanship of their designated animal.

• Exhibitor must have acquired the title and taken possession of the animal on or before July 15 of concurrent year, with the exception of Market Steers which is May 15 of the concurrent year. They will follow the Arkansas State Fair guidelines.

• Animals shown in partnership with the Cattlemen’s Association may be housed at the owner’s farm.  The 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator must be informed of the location so inspections will be possible.

• Animal must be registered solely in the individual’s name

• All animals must remain in the continuous possession of the exhibitor during the duration of the project and must be housed in Calhoun County unless previous arrangements are approved by the 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator.

• All animals must be cared for by the exhibitor during the duration of the project.

• Calhoun County Fair Livestock Committee reserves the right to inspect ownership and request specific information regarding care and custody of any animal at any time during the duration of the project. A mandatory animal inspection will be conducted by the 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator prior to the Calhoun County Fair Livestock Show by August 15 of the concurrent year. If deemed unfit by the Livestock Committee they will not be permitted to show in the Calhoun County Fair Livestock Show.

 

Showing Animals:

• Exhibitors will be required to show their own animal(s).

• All exhibitors must be able to appropriately handle their animal and demonstrate control at all times.

• Substitute exhibitors may be allowed for the following reasons:

  • Sickness or physical injury.

  • Conflicts with animals being exhibited in other species.

  • Two animals in the same class.

  • A pre-approved reason agreed upon by the Livestock Coordinator and FFA Advisor/County Agent.

• Any substitute exhibitor must be a member of Arkansas 4-H or FFA that has a current Junior Livestock entry.

• In no case may a parent, agent, advisor, or friend exhibit or assist with exhibiting any animal.

• Any exceptions to these rules will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

 

Showmanship: Calhoun County Fair competitions are divided into three divisions:

• Pee Wee Division – Ages 5 to 8

• Junior Division – Ages 9 to 13

• Senior Division – Ages 14 and Up

• The age for the showmanship competition is determined based on the date of the Calhoun County Livestock Show.

• Showmanship exhibitor must own the animal shown in the showmanship competitions and must have exhibited that animal in the same year.

 

Fairgrounds Workday: Workday’s will be coordinated by the FFA Advisor and County Agent prior to Fair Week. One workday is mandatory for each exhibitor to attend.  All exhibitors are responsible for attending or making arrangements with their advisor prior to the scheduled day. This years dates are Sunday, August 24, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. or Sunday, September 14, 2025 at 2:00 P.M.

*If there are any scheduling changes, exhibitors will be notified in advance by the FFA Advisor and County Agent.

 

Care and Custody: All animals must remain in the continuous possession of the exhibitor during the duration of the project and must be personally cared for by the exhibitor. Calhoun County Fair officials reserve the right to inspect ownership and request specific information regarding care and custody of an animal at any time during the duration of the project.

           

Premium Points: Premium points will be issued based upon how the animal places in class.  Premium money is awarded yearly from the State and will be given out based on the money we are allotted.  

 

Show Judge: Obtaining a judge will be the responsibility of the 4-H Leader, FFA Advisor and/or Livestock Coordinator.  The judge will not be from Calhoun County.  The judge will have the final say as to his/her placings and will also determine the order of animals for the Junior Livestock Sale (Premium Sale).

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Junior Livestock Auction (Premium Sale)

• The Premium Sale is for exhibitors of qualifying Junior Livestock Shows. All exhibitors who qualify must participate in at least one additional livestock show. Eligible shows include, but are not limited to, Four States, Arkansas Youth Expo, Southeast District Fair, or the Arkansas State Fair (Excluding Jackpot Shows). Failure to do so will result in the exhibitor being ineligible for the Premium Sale the following year.

• The Sale is limited to one animal per exhibitor.

• Eligible Junior Livestock Shows are: (The order below also represents the order for the premium sale)

  • Market Steer

  • Commercial Heifer

  • Market Hog

  • Market Lamb

  • Market Goat

  • Market Rabbit

  • Poultry Chain

• All animals will be eligible for the sale one year only, with the exception of Commercial Heifers which are eligible for 2 years.

• The sale is limited to one animal per exhibitor, with 33.33% of exhibitors per species qualifying for the sale plus Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion. Market rabbits and poultry chain will be excluded, with only the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion representing those categories.

• The judge will place all animals in sale order after the Grand and Reserve Champions are       chosen. Grand Champion will be selected from the first-place winners of classes. The second-place winner from the Grand Champions class will be entered for Reserve Champion. One exhibitor is allowed to win both Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion but is allowed only one animal in the Sale.

• The exhibitor must show their animal at the sale unless they have a legitimate excuse (sickness, school or church function) Any exhibitor substitutes must be made with the FFA Advisor, County Agent and Livestock Coordinator by 9am the day of sale.

• Each exhibitor is responsible for making sure their animal is ready for the sale and in the assigned area in time for the sale.

• No animal will be sold for possession.

• Checks will be delivered to the 4-H Advisor for 4-H members and the FFA advisor for FFA members.  Checks will be written when all funds are collected.  In the event that bids are not received and are outstanding, the bid will not be paid.

• The Fair Board asks each sale exhibitor to send their thank-you notes within 2 weeks of receiving addresses of buyers. Thank you notes should be turned into the FFA Advisor or County Agent before receiving your Premium Sale check. Each exhibitor has a maximum of 6 weeks to turn in their thank-you notes, or their Premium Sale check will be VOIDED.

• If a Premium Sale check is not cashed or deposited within 90 days of being received, the exhibitor will be ineligible for the Premium Sale the following year.