Livestock Rules

OPEN CLASS LIVESTOCK RULES
JUSTIN OGG – OVERALL SUPERINTENDENT

Exhibitors in the open class livestock department must pay the admission and fees as listed in the general rules. Open Class exhibitors minimum age is 6 as of January 1 of the current year.
Stock must be entered in the name of the actual owner, who shall be the owner for at least 90 days previous to the entry.
The number of entries is unlimited. However, no exhibitor shall be permitted to win more than two prizes in any one class unless otherwise specified.
It shall be the responsibility of each exhibitor to be prepared to show registration papers if required by the fair association.
The exhibitor is not required to be the owner of any livestock class other than market animals.

CLARE COUNTY FAIR JUNIOR LIVESTOCK COUNCIL

All Clubs must be registered with the Clare County Fair. It is the responsibility of the leader to fill out the appropriate form.
Exhibitors must be residents of Clare County or enrolled in a Clare County school district. Or be enrolled in a Clare County Fair Youth Club.
Livestock Council membership form is due by December 1, 2022.
Fair pre-entry form is due May 1, 2023
Fair entry form needs to be submitted by 11:59 pm June 23, 2023.
Code of Conduct is due by June 23, 2023.
All large animal exhibitors must have a YQCA Certificate on file in the fair office by June 23, 2023.

YOUTH LARGE ANIMAL GENERAL RULES OVERALL SUPERINTENDENT: JUSTIN OGG
Weigh in for Beef: December 3, 2022, 9:00 am to 11:00 am
Weigh in for Sheep & Dairy Feeder: April 21, 2023, 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Weigh in for Swine: April 22, 2023, 9:00 to 11:00 am
The purposes of the Clare County Youth Market Livestock Project are:

To encourage and assist in the selection of good quality feeder animals.
To encourage a good livestock feeding program.
To teach good livestock management including the preparation of livestock for market.

The following policies have been discussed and accepted by the Clare County Agricultural Society:

Large animals include beef, dairy beef, dairy feeder, swine, and sheep.
No entry fee or stall/pen fee will be charged to Youth or FFA members entering exhibits in the youth departments.
Youth age is 6-19 years old as of January 1st. Exhibitors must be able to feed, clean pens and handle the animal or they will be disqualified.
Exhibitors in open class must pay the admission and fees as listed in the general rules. Open class minimum age is 6 as of January 1st of the current year.
Developmentally Disabled participants: youth acknowledged with impairments may exhibit and sell through the age of 25years old. Youth receiving special services can participate in showmanship class. A note from the parent or leader needs to be included with the fair entry form. This class will not be eligible for any Overall Contest.
All animals are required to stay at the fair the entire week.
The animal shown in market class must be the animal used for showmanship. If you have more than one market animal in a species the same animal must be used through the showmanship contest.
All cattle, swine and sheep native and out of state entered in expositions or fairs must follow the MDA Health Requirements for Livestock Exhibited in Michigan.
Exhibitors must own their animals.
All animals are to be kept clean, fed, and watered by exhibitor the entire week. Exhibitors are responsible for cleaning their stalls and pens before 9:00 am. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.
Animals deemed a safety risk may be asked to leave the fairgrounds.
If an exhibitor sells any species large or small in any other county fair, that exhibitor will not be allowed to show in youth classes or sell in Clare County in the current or following year. Excluding state and national shows.
No drench feeding or medication of any animals. Any species requiring drench medication must be approved and supervised by a licensed veterinarian, Tampering and/or misrepresentation of age, ownership, and any other irregularity in showing will be considered fraud and deception.

The following grooming practices are PROHIBITED:

Adding any substance externally to build up, change or alter the shape or conformation of cattle, including by way of example, but not limited to rope, false hair, graphite, and hemp. Any attempt to disrupt or change the normal dental development of an animal. Any substances administered internally or externally to alter the conformation of the animal are prohibited. Violation will result in the forfeiture of sale privileges and forfeiture of any ribbons/trophies/special awards earned with the animal(s) and disqualification of the exhibitor. .

Animals deemed a safety risk may be asked to leave the fairgrounds.
Record keeping is required for each large animal. Record books must be submitted to the Clare County Fair office by 8:00 p.m., Sunday, July 23, 2023, or they will be disqualified.
Showmanship animal must be a Clare County Fair market animal owned by the exhibitor. Breeding animals will be accepted in a market animal is not exhibited. All exhibitors must compete in showmanship to be able to sell in the auction.
Animals must have a USDA premise ID tag when they arrive at weigh-in or they will not be allowed to enter.
Animals that do not participate in the auction: Pickup procedure will be announced at a later date.

LIVESTOCK SHOWMANSHIP CONTEST
All showmen placing 1st-6th will receive a showmanship-placing rosette. In the event there are more than 10 participants in a class, the class may be split.
LIVESTOCK OVERALL SHOWMANSHIP GUIDELINES

Overall Livestock Showmanship Contest will be broken into two age divisions. Junior Division will be youth 6 to 12 years of age and Senior Division will be youth 13 to 19 years of age. Age is determined as of January 1st of the fair year. Seniors and Juniors will compete separately.
Species represented will be Beef, Dairy, Horse, Sheep, Swine and Dairy Feeder.
All winners will show all species in the overall showmanship contest, including the specie they won.
In the event one youth wins more than one species, there will be a draw by 4 pm Wednesday to determine which specie they will represent in the contest. The 2nd place showman from same age division will be appointed to fulfill the entry of the specie not drawn by the first-place winner.
Judges should be instructed to pick their overall showman and reverse showman from all the first(1st) place winners of the Senior Division. Seniors should be dismissed, and the Juniors should enter and a Junior and reserve Overall champion shall be picked.
All barn superintendents will select six (6) animals of each specie to be used in the contest. Barn superintendents will provide the necessary equipment needed for each specie.
Contestants will draw numbers to determine the animal used for each contest. Contestants may not draw their own animal.
Scoring will take place by youth receiving points for the number they placed. The lowest score will win. Points will be 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11.
Junior and Senior overall livestock showman winner will have their name engraved on the traveling trophy and receive a plaque.
In the event of a tie, the Overall Champion will be selected by a committee of at least two official judges, from the pool of judges contracted by the Clare County Fair Board. Judges may arrive at their final decision by either forming a collective decision or by interviewing contestants involved in the tiebreaker.
If no official judges remain, a committee comprised of the specie superintendents and one Clare County Fair Board representative shall conduct said interview and/or questions to arrive at an Overall Champion Showman. Family members and leaders in relation to contestants involved will be excused from the committee.

Overall Senior Champion Showman the “H.D. WETZEL MEMORIAL TROPHY”
in recognition and appreciation for Mr. Hank Wetzel’s contribution to the youth of Clare County.
Overall Junior Champion Showman - The Stringham Family
Senior Plaque - Jim & Maggie Zinser