Catron County Fair
Celebrating the youth of Catron County for over 50 years!
General Livestock Rules
GENERAL LIVESTOCK RULES
The Catron County Fair Association is not responsible for private treaty animals. (Animals sold privately that were not in the sale). Exhibitor will be responsible for all non-sale animals. The Catron County Fair is committed to the humane treatment of all animals exhibited. Every possible precaution is taken to insure the animals’ safety and well-being. The production practices in the livestock industry are based on good principals of animal husbandry. No one has a greater economic stake in the welfare of animals than the livestock producers and organizations involved in the promotion of agriculture.
General rules will apply to all livestock entries. Poultry and Rabbit entries will be on Wednesday from 6 to 8pm. All entries must be in place by 8 pm. Steer, heifer, lamb, swine & goat weigh-in will begin on Wednesday from 6 to 8pm and will have a reweigh on Thursday from 7 to 9am. Remember the mandatory exhibitors meeting at 9:30am Thursday. All livestock exhibitors are required to attend. Animals will be released at 4:00 P.M. Saturday. The Fair Association, Fair Association Directors, and/or Superintendents assume no responsibility for loss or accident to any animal. Exhibitors will be responsible for their livestock until they are loaded to packer or returned to home.
GENERAL RULES
1. Exhibitors not abiding by these rules are subject to the penalties stated in these rules, are subject to dismissal from the grounds and/or may forfeit all entry fees paid and/or premiums won.
2. Exhibitors will be required to show their own animal, unassisted. Any exceptions must be approved by the superintendent, in advance of the show. If they have two animals in the same weight division, the second animal can be shown by another qualified exhibitor. An exhibitor can be excused from showing their own animal by the Livestock Superintendent for documented health reasons.
3. The Health Regulations for all animals is a summary of the New Mexico Livestock rules and regulations for animals entering the show grounds. The New Mexico Livestock Board governs the movement of livestock into shows, fairs, and exhibitions. There may be new hauling regulations; it is the exhibitors’ responsibility to check with the New Mexico Livestock Board for hauling, health paper, and any rule changes.
4. The Catron County Fair Association, Fair Association Directors, and/or Livestock Superintendents, will not be responsible for loss, damage, or injury to animals exhibited, or for any article of any kind that may be lost or destroyed, or in any way damaged. Each exhibitor will be responsible for any injury that may be occasioned by any person whomsoever, by an animal owned or exhibited by him.
5. Exhibitor shall indemnify the Catron County Fair against all claims, demands, suits, or judgments of any kind or nature, including attorneys fees and costs that may grow out of injury, damage or loss occasioned by any animal owned or exhibited by him, or arise from any person in charge of any such animal. All animals exhibited in this show will be exhibited entirely at the owner’s risk. The Catron County fair will not be responsible for injury sustained in any way to exhibitors or spectators.
6. At the close of the Fair, all exhibits must be claimed by the exhibitor or by parties representing the exhibitor. Those in charge will assume no responsibility for exhibits or belongings left on the fairgrounds after the close of the fair unless definite instructions have been left with the Superintendent of the department.
7. No contestant, exhibitor, rodeo official, or anyone officially connected with the Catron County Fair shall consume alcoholic beverages on the fairgrounds or at the rodeo arena. Any contestant or exhibitor doing so will be removed from the fairgrounds and will forfeit any fees that have been paid. The fairgrounds is county property and it is unlawful to possess or consume alcoholic beverages on county property. County property is subject to surveillance by the Catron County Sheriff’s Department and/or New Mexico State Police.
8. Camping will be in designated areas only. The fair board has made every possible attempt to accommodate any and all campers. No exhibitor under the age of 18 shall be allowed to camp without adult supervision. Tents/camps of underage exhibitors must be within close proximity to their parents or guardians camps. NO individuals not directly related to the fair, i.e. exhibitors, judges, fair officials, etc., will be allowed to camp on the fairgrounds. You are requested to PLEASE TURN OFF ALL GENERATORS at 10:00 PM. It is the right of any fair official to request that a campsite be moved and/or removed from the fairgrounds. If individuals are not compliant, it is the right of any fair official to request the assistance of the Catron County Sheriff’s Department and/or New Mexico State Police.
9. Animals that are not entered in the fair or that have not been properly inspected will not be allowed on the fairgrounds.
10. No exhibit unworthy of an award shall receive one, even though there is no competition, nor shall any exhibit receive an award greater than its merits justify.
11. Once checked in no animal may leave the fairgrounds. If removed they are not allowed back on fairgrounds and are disqualified with no return of entry fees.
12. No clipping will be done on the fairgrounds. Trimming only!
13. Conduct: Exhibitors are warned that any act of discourtesy or disobedience to the officials on the part of the exhibitor, parents, or sponsors will disqualify exhibitor from adjudication, and the owner shall forfeit his entrance and other fees. Any exhibitor, parent, or sponsor who shall attempt to interfere with judges in the performance of their duties, or who shall make any false statement in regard to any animal exhibited or shall interfere with clerks and judges books, shall be excluded from the competition and may be subject to other disciplinary actions.
14. Judges’ decisions are FINAL. Judges are selected on a two-year rotation.
15. Federal and State Livestock Board sanitation regulations will apply.
16. Exhibitors must furnish all water pails and feed boxes.
17. Each exhibitor is responsible for the care, showing, and selling of his or
her own animals.
18. Ethics: The following are termed Unethical Practices Animals that have been given any form of intoxicating beverage, tranquilizer, substance, or other drug effecting mood or attitude prior to judging; Use of any product or substance administered internally or used externally to alter the appearance or conformation of an animal for exhibition. This includes the use of graphite, powders, dyes, hemp, false tail-heads, glued on hair, or hair-like substances, or other similar substances externally, steroids, growth stimulants, diuretic, or artificial filling internally. Judges are requested to report to the management any animals upon which a surgical operation has been performed to improve their "show" appearance.
19. Medication: "The use of any chemical or compound that is not approved by the FDA for use in meat producing animals and the illegal use of approved chemicals or compounds is prohibited." Unapproved is deemed to mean not approved by the Food and drug Administration (FDA) and/or the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for slaughter animals. "If an animal passes all USDA but fails any FDA testing for the presence of drug(s) or other chemicals, the Animal will be condemned by the show officials and not allowed for consumption.
20. As a condition for participation in the Show, every exhibitor must agree to submit any animal entered by exhibitor to inspection by a veterinarian appointed by the management, FDA, USDA/FSIS, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, and/or New Mexico Department of Health and agrees to have such animal submitted to any tests as may be designated and requested by the veterinarian. The Show specifically reserves the right to have tissue, blood or urine laboratory analysis made on any animal entered for competition The conclusions reached by the veterinarian, as to whether such 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 Show or any of its officers. A licensed veterinarian should be consulted before administering any medication or growth stimulant.
21. If, after examination by an official veterinarian, an animal is found to have been subject to unethical practices, including producing an analysis with a quantity of a substance or drug in violation of these rules: It will be disqualified barred from further exhibition no awards will be made for the involved animal and any other animal exhibited by exhibitor entry fees will not be refunded the Exhibitor will forfeit all rights and privileges.
22. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wholesome Meat Act applies to the sale of market livestock sold during the Catron County Fair as follows:
a. Animals must be in good health and carcasses free of drug or chemical residues;
b. Antibiotics and sulfonamides have required withdrawal periods;
c. Drug label directions for use and withdrawal periods must be followed;
d. If drug or other chemical residues are found in tissue of carcasses, the entire carcass may be condemned.
23. It is the sole responsibility of the Exhibitor to insure that the animal is free of the above prescribed drugs and substances. The extent of knowledge on the part of the Exhibitor with regard to the drugs or substance found in an animal is not relevant to any issue, and it shall not be a defense that a person or persons unknown introduced the prescribed-substance into the animal. If a product in violation of this rule is found in the tissue of a carcass of any animal sold through sales connected with the Catron County Fair, the Fair will in no way be liable or responsible for condition of carcass or sale price of animal and the carcass will be condemned and exhibitor forfeits all rights to sale proceeds, premiums, and prizes.
24. Any person that in any way performs any act that would alter an animal’s appearance or actions without the owner’s permission, that person and their family may be forever barred from showing at the Catron County Fair. Any sponsoring Agent, Person associated with the sponsoring Agent, Adviser, Leader, Parent or Guardians who are found to be involved with the encouragement of administering, providing of unapproved substances or recommendation of the use of unapproved substances will be barred from future participation at the Catron County Fair.
25. Fitting: The exhibitor’s parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters or any Catron County 4-H leader, County Agent or Agricultural Education Adviser may offer instruction and assistance to the exhibitor in preparing his/her animal for show.
If instruction and assistance is required and performed, the exhibitor must be "actively" involved. The exhibitors’ involvement is the responsibility of the parents and instructors.
26. Animals will be released following the sale on Saturday at 4:00 PM.
Requests for early dismissal must be approved by Departmental Superintendent and Livestock Superintendent.
JUNIOR DIVISION
ALL GENERAL RULES ARE TO BE FOLLOWED BY JUNIOR DIVISION
1. All contestants in this department must be bona fide 4-H club members enrolled in projects they are exhibiting or FFA members in Catron County for the current school year, certified by the County Agent or Agriculture Education Advisor.
2. Exhibitors not abiding by these rules are subject to the penalties stated in these rules,and are subject to dismissal from the grounds and/or may forfeit all entry fees and or premiums won.
3. Exhibitors will be required to show their own animal, unassisted. Any exceptions must be approved by the superintendent, in advance of the show. If they have two animals in the same weight division, the second animal can be shown by another qualified exhibitor. An exhibitor can
be excused from showing their own animal by the Livestock Superintendent or documented health reasons.
4. All livestock exhibitors must check in with the livestock secretary between 6 & 8 pm Wed. to receive their fair packet, this includes poultry and rabbit. Exhibitors must be present and must sign the general fund donor thank you letter before they will receive a packet. Once checked in no animal may leave the fairgrounds. If removed they are not allowed back on fairgrounds and are disqualified with no return of entry fees.
5. All exhibitors must attend the exhibitor meeting held in the show ring at 9:30 AM on Thursday.
6. All exhibitors must present their signed "Buyer Thank You" card to Livestock Show and Sale secretary immediately after the Livestock Auction. No check will be delivered until all required documentation has been approved by leaders, advisers, extension agents, and designated fair officials.
7. All entries must be certified as to eligibility by County Agent or FFA Adviser. On- line entries will be reviewed by county agent and FFA advisers
to ensure all entries are legitimate and eligible for entry. All animals must be owned, cared for and entered in the individual name of the owner.
8. An on-line entry must be completed for each animal being entered into the fair. No animal will be allowed to show unless an on-line entry, or paper entry in special situations, has been completed.
9. Livestock, Rabbits & Poultry entries will close on the first Friday in August.
10. Judges’ decisions are FINAL. Judges are selected on a two-year rotation.
11. Federal and State Livestock Board sanitation regulations will apply.
12. Exhibitors must furnish all water pails and feed boxes.
13. Each exhibitor is responsible for the care, showing, and selling of his or her own animals.
14. Once checked in no animal may leave the fairgrounds. If removed they are not allowed back on fairgrounds and are disqualified with no return of entry fees.
15. No clipping will be done on the fairgrounds.
16. A $25 fee will be assessed to any exhibitor who does not clean his/her stalls. Superintendents of departments will report unclean stalls to Livestock Superintendent. Fees will be assessed from sale of animal.
17. Each steer, swine, lamb, or goat exhibitor is allowed to sell one animal.
18. Grand Champion exhibitors of Steer, Lamb, Goat, Swine, market pens of Poultry and Rabbit, will be allowed to sell another market animal.
Grand Champion Market animals must sell in order to receive a
second sale slot.
19. There will be a 4% commission fee withheld from each sale item. This is used to pay for announcers, auctioneers, judges, ribbons, premiums, and other awards. All superintendents, fair board members, set-up and tear down personnel, BBQ and pancake breakfast personnel, exhibit hall attendants, ring stewards, and many more are all volunteers.
20. All exhibitors must complete a "Disposition Form" for ALL animals entered in the fair. Forms must be filled out and signed by exhibitor, parent, and division superintendent. All forms must then be turned in to the livestock office NO LATER than thirty minutes after the completion of lamb showmanship. Failure to turn in a signed disposition form may result in the exhibitor being pulled from the sale.