2008 Logan County Fair General Rules and Regulations

The Logan County Agricultural Society Inc. is governed by Rules and Laws for County and Independent Agricultural Societies (Fair Sections) of the Ohio Departments of Agriculture.

In the affect that the Logan County Fair is used as a means of public relations for the many programs and is a vehicle for educational methods which teaches to enhance the learning experience of the individual.  Where as these programs are designed to develop leaderships, talents, and abilities, and these programs help to strengthen personal standards and citizenship ideals, it is necessary that we enforce the rules and regulations of the Logan County Agricultural Society.  This is an attempt to strengthen the program of the Fair and to support those who abide by the rules.  Open only to Logan County residents with exceptions of individual departments and Junior Fair entrants.

1.

All articles offered for premiums must be owned by persons offering the same or by some Minor member of the family.  In case of registration in a family name, only two (2) entries per family will be allowed with the exception of livestock.  All entries except fat stock must show registration papers prior to the show. State Health Laws must apply.  All exhibitors must have a season ticket unless otherwise stated.  Season tickets cost $18.00.

2.

Limit of two (2) entries in each class except where designated.

3.

All entries must be made and fees paid by Wednesday, July 2, 2008.  All blanks must be signed by exhibitor and when received by Office are final. Entry tags will be issued to non-livestock exhibitors and must be attached to article when exhibited.  Stock to compete for premiums must be entered in owner’s name.  No entry shall compete for more than one premium except entries for Jr. Fair.

4.

All exhibits must be in place by 10:00 P.M. July 7, 2008 with exception of individual departments and Junior Fair.  No exhibit of animals entered for exhibition can be removed from the fairgrounds except at the discretion of the Fair Veterinarian until 8:30 P.M. on the last day of fair or where Department rules specify otherwise.  All animals must be fastened securely with good strong halters,  cattle double tied.  A violation of these rules means a forfeit of premiums.

5.

Exhibitors will be careful to have their animals or articles arranged in their appropriate places, and in good season, otherwise they may be overlooked by the awarding committee.

6.

The Agricultural Society will employ the Judges for the different classes, and arrange with the Judges as to the compensation for their services. No person will be allowed to interfere with any of the awarding Committees or Judges while in discharge of their duties.  Any person violating the rule shall forfeit any premium awarded him by the Committee.

7.

In all cases when there is but one Exhibitor in a Class with no competition the Judge will award only one money, which may be 1st, 2nd, or 3rd as the Judge or Committee may decide they merit.

Every species of gambling, under whatsoever name, is strictly forbidden on the Fairgrounds, and within the distance prescribed by law.  No gambling, immoral show, intoxicated person, selling or giving away of liquors allowed.

A police force will be on the grounds, sufficient to see that the laws of the State and the Rules of the Agricultural Society are observed.

The Agricultural Society will take every precaution for the safe keeping of stock and articles on exhibition after their arrival and arrangements on the grounds, but will not be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur.  Exhibitors are requested to give attention to their property. In no event will the society be responsible for any accident that may happen to any person or persons on the Fairgrounds.

Straw, feed, and feed equipment must be furnished by exhibitor.

All complaints, protests, and objections made by anyone to any Director or Department, must be reduced to writing, sworn to and signed by person making such, and presented to the Board or Secretary within 24 hours from the time of the exhibit.

Rule Violations:  In the question of a rule violation the following process will be used.  The Exhibitor and/or parties involved will be questioned by the Department Committee.  If it is felt an attempt to defraud the Society or a rule violation has been made, the Department Committee will take the matter before the Society’s Executive Committee.  The following due process will be used, the violator will receive written notice that an infraction has occurred.  All parties will be notified of a hearing, and the exhibitor and/or parties shall have the right to be heard with private retained counsel present.  If so desired, before the Committee renders a decision and penalty upon hearing the case, the Executive Committee will make a ruling.  When satisfactory evidence has been obtained by the Committee that the rules of the Society have been violated, the Exhibitor and/or Exhibitor’s family may be barred from showing in any future Logan County Fair.  The minimum number of years for banishment is three (3) years before the right to review.  When any Exhibitor has been awarded premiums, trophies, awards, ribbons, or sale money, they will be asked to refund any or all of the above.

The Logan County Agricultural Society is responsible for the overall management for the Fair.  The Junior Fair Board and all programs, shows, and activities are responsible, accountable, and under the direct supervision of the Senior Fair Board.  The Senior Fair Board, the Junior Fair Board, and/or the Junior Fair Departments reserve the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and regulations and to arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions, or differences in regard thereto, or otherwise arising out of, connected with or incident to the Logan County Fair/Jr. Fair.  It further reserves the right to determine unforeseen matters not covered by these rules, to amend or add to these rules as in its judgment it may determine, and, to withdraw all premium offerings and awards in all departments should any circumstance demand it.

Nothing shall be sold or given away or otherwise disposed of by Exhibitors which will be in any way conflict with or which is the subject matter of any privilege or concession granted or sold by the Logan County Agricultural Society.

Premium cards and ribbons have no value as to payment or premiums, as premiums are paid only from the records of the Judges books.

The Board reserves the right to withdraw or withhold, for good cause, any premium awarded.

No person except the Officers or Directors of the Society shall see or be informed of the number or kind of entries made before the closing date of entries.

Every effort is made in the preparation of the premium list for the Logan County Fair to have it accurate, but the Society cannot bear any responsibility for errors, and no liability is assumed by the Society for any error in printing the list.

No Exhibitor can demonstrate their product in such a way as to hinder the demonstration of products of others.

The society operates on a budget, and should expenses exceed budget, the Agricultural Society will prorate both Junior Fair and Open Class premiums.

No Open Class fat livestock will be sold through Junior Fair entry.

The Logan County Agricultural Society, Inc. shall have the right to require places one through five in each class of animals, or any other suspect animal, to be subject to examination or tests as prescribed by the Fair Veterinarian to determine if a substance has been administered to the animal to change the confirmation or temperament of the animal.

Total premiums of $5.00 or less must be picked up at the Fairgrounds.  If not picked up by August 15, 2008, premiums will be turned back into the general fund and will not be reissued.

All checks are void after 90 days of issue and will not be reissued.

Live Animal/ Carcass Examination

All project animals will be subject to Pre-Fair inspection or testing at any time by appropriate Fair or youth program Officials or their representative. Refusal to allow such inspection will disqualify the animal from exhibition and its privilege at any county and state fairs.

The Jr. Sr. Fair Board and its representatives maintain the right to inspect and/or detain any animal, or to use any means to investigate any allegation, formal or informal, part of or pertaining to Jr. Fair matters.

Fitting and Showing

To maintain a high degree of confidence in the livestock shows , the Logan County Junior Fair and Senior Fair Boards, reserve the right to disqualify any animals that have been fitted in an unethical manner.  Unethical fitting shall include removal of tissue, use of ice water, enemas, ice packing, electrical shock, pumping or tabbing (cattle), syringe feeding (lambs), excessive bracing (lambs), and excessive trimming of the sole and wall of the hoof (ponies), any injection of gas, solid or liquid also cutting or tearing of the hide or underneath the hide to removal of tissue in an attempt to alter the shape of the animal.  It shall also include attempts to disrupt or change normal dental development as well as the dyeing or coloring of the individuals which alter their natural coloration, also artificial tail heads or polls.  Any attempt to change the degree of firmness of any individual shall also be considered unethical.

All exhibitors must be present, directly involved and actively participating during grooming or fitting of their animals.

There will be no dyeing or coloring of livestock which alters their natural coloration.  You may not change the natural color of the animal.

Penalties

No person shall be allowed to exhibit in the Logan County Jr. Fair who has been banned for disciplinary or other similar reasons from another County, Independent, or State Fair for a period commensurate with the ban.

Tampering and/or misrepresentation as to breeding, age, ownership, and other irregularity in showing will be considered fraud and deception.  Any premiums, trophies, awards, or sale money won by such exhibitor will be withheld or returned.  Fraud and deception will warrant Exhibitors and/or Exhibitors family may be barred from showing at any future Logan County Fair.

Any animal(s) that have been fitted in an unethical manor, or otherwise tempered with, shall be disqualified from Fair Exhibition along with the Exhibitor(s) involved.  Any premium, trophies, awards, or sale money won by such Exhibitor, will be withheld or returned. Violators and/or family members may be barred from showing at any future Logan County Fair.

All violations in relation to the Junior Fair which may happen before or after the Logan County Fair will be heard and considered at a time designated and will include the violator, selected adult superintendents in charge, and selected member of the Extension Office.  Senior Fair Board has the right to make the final decision if they so choose.

Proper Authorities will be notified of any illegal infractions.

Constitution of the Logan County Agricultural Society

Article I - TITLE

Article III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  The members of this Society must be residents of Logan County and each member must buy a membership ticket available until one hour before the hour of the annual election.  Members must be 18 years of age.

Section 2.  All memberships shall be issued in the name of an individual.  No person shall pay for or secure more than one such membership and that membership shall be for himself.  Only those persons shall be considered members and have a right to vote at the annual election or hold office.

Section 3.  No memberships shall be issued to corporations, organizations, partnerships, or firms.

Section 4.  There must be at least 30 members of the Society.

Section 5.  Membership tickets go on sale December 15 of each year and remain on sale during reasonable hours, until one hour prior to the election of directors, except for Sundays and Holidays at a place designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.  Notices of sale of membership tickets and date of their expiration shall be printed in the annual premium list and at least one newspaper of general circulation in the county at least twice during period of sale.  Once when they go on sale and again no less than seven days before sale is terminated.

Section 7.  Notice of each meeting shall be sent to each Director at least 3 days previous to the time of meeting.  If any Director fails to attend three consecutive meetings, or fail to participate during the fair, the Board may declare his position vacant and name a successor to serve until the next annual election, when a Director shall be elected for the unexpired term.  A Director may be granted a leave of absence on request by action of the Board of Directors.

Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall be composed of 27 members of the Society. One elected from each township, one from the city of Bellefontaine, and 9 at-large, and shall be elected for a term of three years so arranged that the terms of one third of the Directors expire annually.  Honorary Directors may be appointed by discretion of the Board and these Directors may be given same privileges as elected Directors with exception of voting.

Article V - ELECTION

Section 1.  The annual Election of the Board of Directors shall be held no later than the first Saturday in December.

Section 2.  The President shall appoint three Judges and two Clerks, who are members of the Society, to conduct the Election and declare the results thereof.  The polls must be open not less than four hours, and the time of opening and closing stated in the Notice of Election.

Section 3.  Members must declare their Candidacy for the Office of Director of the Society by filing with the Secretary petition signed by ten or more members at least seven days before the annual Election of Directors is held.  Only regularly nominated Candidates who have met the filing requirements will be eligible for election as a Director.

Section 4.  The annual Election and the Election of Officers by the Board of Directors shall be by ballot in all cases.

Section 5.  The terms of Office of the retiring Directors shall expire and that of the Director-Elect shall begin on the first day of January, or until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section 6.  Any vacancy caused by death, resignation, removal from office, or other causes, may be filled by the Board until the next annual Election, when a Director shall be elected for the unexpired term.

Article VI - ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  The annual Meeting of the Members of the Society shall be held in Bellefontaine, Ohio not later than the thirtieth day of November of each year.

Section 2.  At this Meeting, the Officers and Directors of the Society shall make reports to the Membership of the Society concerning the past Fair and make recommendations for the betterment of future fairs.  The Members shall be given opportunity to make suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of the Society, and it’s Fair.  Such other business may be presented as may be prescribed by this Constitution or as may be deemed proper by the Board of Directors.

Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall annually meet not later than the thirtieth day of November and elect a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and such other Officers as it may deem proper.  The President and Vice President elected to serve one year and the Secretary and Treasurer not to exceed three years, as the Board of Directors may determine, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section 2.  The Office of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined or may be separated as the Board of Directors may deem proper.

Section 3.  The President and Vice President shall be Directors.  The Treasurer and Secretary may or may not be Directors.

Section 4.  Before Election of Officers, the newly elected Directors shall qualify by taking the following Oath before a competent authority (designated by law): ‘I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of Ohio, Laws of Ohio, and rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio pertaining to agricultural societies and to the best of my ability perform the duties of Director (Officer) of the Logan County Agricultural Society, so help me God.”

Section 5.  Any Officer, elected or employed, shall take the above Oath of Office prior to November thirtieth of the Term of his/her Office before a competent authority (designated by law).

Article VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  Amendments to the constitution of bylaws may be proposed by:

A. A majority of the Board of Directors at a scheduled meeting voting in favor of placing an amendment on the ballot: or

B. Filing a petition with the Secretary of the Society at least 14 days prior to the annual Election of the Board of Directors or annual Meeting of the Membership of the Society. Said petition, must set forth the proposed Amendment and be signed by not less than 25 Members.

Section 2.  If an Amendment is proposed, it shall be submitted to the Membership of the Society, at the annual Election of the Board of Directors, or annual meeting of the Membership of the Society.

Section 3.  When more than one Amendment shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the members to vote on each amendment separately.

Section 4.  If the majority of the Membership voting on the proposed Amendment shall adopt such Amendment, it shall become a part of the Constitution or By-Laws.

Article IX - COMPENSATION

Section 1.  The compensation of Board Members shall be fixed by the Board in accordance with the rules of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Section 2.  The Compensation of the Officers of the Society shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section 1.  The Board of Directors shall fix the dates for the annual exposition of the Society, subject to the approval of the Ohio Director of Agriculture.

By-Laws of the Logan County Agricultural Society

Section 1.  A majority of the Members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Society.

Section 1.  The regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be the second Wednesday of each month.

Section 2.  The time and location of meeting shall be determined by the board.

ARTICLE III - MEETINGS 

Section 1.  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings, appoint various Committees subject to approval of Executive Committee, and to perform such other duties as are determined by the Board.  Ex-officio members and any other active workers may be appointed to serve on Committees but cannot vote on any question at the Directors Meeting.

Section 2.  It shall be the duty of the Vice President to assume all the duties of the President in the event of his absence or vacancy of Office and perform such other duties as are determined by the Board.

Section 3.  It shall be the duty of the Secretary and Treasurer to:

(1) Keep a list of all Members of the Society.

(2) Keep accurately a record of all proceedings of the Society and the Board.

(3) Notify all Members of the Board of the time and place of all special Meetings.

(4) Give the Members of the Society notice of time and place of the annual Election of the Board of Directors and the annual Meeting of the Membership.

(5) Keep strict account of all moneys that may come into his hands and pay the same over to the Treasurer and take his receipt therefore.

(6) Keep a correct itemized account of all receipts and expenditures of money.

(7) Make out the annual report to the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

(8) Perform such other duties as and determined by the Board.

(9) Receive all moneys and give a receipt for same as to amount and sources from which it came.

Article IV - RULES

Section 1.  The Board of Directors may enact such rules and regulations for conducting the business of the Society which do not conflict with the constitution or by-laws, regulations of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, or laws of the State of Ohio.

Section 1. A Premium List must be published at least thirty days before the date of the Fair and must include the rules and regulations governing the Exhibitors.  The Board of Directors must change the Premium List and the rules governing it at any time they think it is the betterment of the Society.  Members in charge of the various Departments shall secure a competent Judge for the Department of which they are in charge.

Section 2.  All agreements must be presented to the Secretary at the time they are made and the Secretary shall keep a record of such agreements and read them at the following Meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 3.  All receipts, including ticket sales, shall be deposited in the bank not later than the day next following the receipt, unless both of the following conditions apply:

a. Total amount of un-deposited cash receipts is less than $1,000.00, and

b. The Society’s Board of Directors has established a policy allowing deposit for up to three days following the date of receipt, and establishing safeguarding procedures for the receipts prior to deposit.

During periods of greater activity, such as the period around Fair Week, cash should be deposited several times per day, and significant deposits at the end of the day should be deposited in the bank’s night depository, and not left overnight on the fairgrounds.

Section 4.  The Logan County Agricultural Society being organized under Sec. 1711.01 of the General Code, it shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to request the County Commissioners to include in their budget such appropriations as specified in Sec. 1711.22; 1711.01 or .02; 1711.02\3; 1711.15 or .17.

Section 5. The Logan County Agricultural Society shall have at their annual Fair or at any other exhibition sponsored by or under the control of the Agricultural Society, an Official Veterinarian who has been approved by the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio.  Before appointing an Official Veterinarian, the Agricultural Society shall submit to the Director of Agriculture, for his approval, the name and address of the Veterinarian whom the Agricultural Society proposes to appoint.  After the Veterinarian recommended for appointment has been approved by the State Director of Agriculture, the Agricultural Society shall certify his appointment to the Director of Agriculture not less than ten days before the opening day of the Fair.

Section 6.  It shall be the responsibility of the Agricultural Society, through the Official Veterinarian appointed by them, to enforce the laws of Ohio and the regulations and rules of the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio.  He shall inspect the livestock entries and necessary health certificates for evidence of infectious disease and shall carry out the recommendation of the Division of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio any refusal or failure on the part of an Exhibitor or Fair Management to observe or comply with the laws, rules, and regulations governing the movement of exhibition of livestock and at the close of the Fair shall make as Official Report as may be required by the Chief of the Division of Animal Husbandry of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio.