2025 Pierce County Fair Rules and Regulations

Pierce County Fair Rules and Regulations PDF
Updated February 28, 2025

1. No Personal Pets allowed; for the safety of your pet and the Fair animals, please keep them at home.
2. NO smoking or Vaping on the Fairgrounds by order of the Fire Marshal. Please limit smoking to 25 feet outside of the Fair admission gates.
3. Outside alcoholic beverages and items prohibited from public use/consumption are not allowed. Alcohol sold at the Pierce County Fair must remain in and be consumed within the designated area.
4. Dangerous, illegal, and/or inappropriate behavior will be grounds for dismissal.
5. Appropriate dress is required.
6. Remember to wash your hands before and after touching animals and always ask before touching any animals. It is also good to wash or sanitize your hands after leaving the animal barns.
7. Each exhibit area may have specific rules; please be courteous.
8. Please follow the directions of the parking attendants.
9. No laser pointers allowed.
10. The Exhibitors have worked hard on their projects. Please be courteous and refrain from touching them.
11. By attending the Pierce County Fair, you consent to use your photograph, image, voice, or reproduction thereof, either in whole or in part, for any advertising, promotional, and publicity purposes without limitation or reservation.

• Be attentive to those approaching/entering your exhibit area.
• Keep personal items out of sight. Cameras, cell phones, and other electronic devices are easily concealed.
• At night, secure your exhibit as best as possible. Cover items with sheets or tarps. If in a building, please lock, but only use a lock that has been approved by Fair Management.

• Should you notice any safety issue or concern, don’t hesitate to call the Fair office at 253-847-4754.
• Security will be dispatched to your location.
• Medical aid is on site during fair hours. Should you need medical aid, dial 9-1-1, and then contact the Fair office at (253) 847-4754. Our team will arrive and provide direct aid to your location.
• Maintenance can be contacted through the Fair office at (253) 847-4754.

• Enter all 4-H, FFA, and Open Class items at https://piercecountyfair.fairentry.com, and check the individual departments for entry deadlines.
• Enter all Pierce County Youth Market Sale entries at https://piercecountyyouthmarketsale.fairentry.com
• The Pierce County Fair reserves the right to refuse or disqualify any exhibits that are not properly entered.
• Open Class entries are due as posted by the individual department.

• All FFA entries must be submitted to your advisor no later than July 21st.
• FFA General Superintendent will allocate stalls after coordinating with 4-H counterparts.

• Steer, lamb, goat, and swine: April 30, 2025
• Rabbit and poultry: May 30, 2025
• The Pierce County Youth Market Sale Committee reserves the right to extend deadlines due to extenuating circumstances. Exhibitors need to contact the Market Sale Manager to request any deadline extensions.

• Members must be enrolled in an FFA Chapter and the represented SAE.
• Animals acquired (leased or purchased) less than 60 days before the show are not eligible. Sheep purchased at an approved Junior Show/Sale can be shown at the FFA Exhibition. Exhibitor must show his/her own animal except when he/she has more than one animal in a class.

• Members must be enrolled in the represented project area.
• All judging and public presentation contestants may only compete in project areas in which they are enrolled.
• Per the 4-H Policy and Procedure Handbook, Rev Oct 2024, animals must be under the 4-H member’s regular care and management for the following periods of time prior to the official county exhibit activity:
  • Equine—90 days
  • Market Beef—120 days
  • Breeding Beef—90 days
  • Llama/Alpaca—90 days
  • Dairy (except Dairy Heifer Replacement)—90 days
  • Dairy Heifer Replacement—60 days
  • Goat—60 days
  • Sheep and Swine (Breeding and Market)—60 days
  • Cats—60 days
  • Cavies—45 days
  • Dogs—60 days
  • Rabbits—45 days
  • Poultry—45 days

• Ownership of potential project animals must be a minimum of (40) forty days prior to the day of the show.

• It is recommended that entries include a 3”x5” card with the exhibitor’s name and club/chapter name. This card will be replaced by an entry tag at check-in. The FairEntry tag is two parts, and the Exhibitor can tear off the lower portion of the entry tag and keep it for identification of the exhibit at the conclusion of the Fair.

• Exhibitors must fit and show their project animal.
• Exhibitors not caring for or arranging for the proper care of their animals will be disqualified and asked to remove them. Each exhibitor is responsible for fitting their own animal. A parent or junior leader must not do this for the exhibitor. Holding an animal for grooming is permissible.

• Exhibitors are not required to enter confirmation or type classes except in the rabbit, cavy, cat, poultry, goat, and dog projects.

• Exhibitors are required to enter a type class with their animal.

• All FFA members, as defined by the current official FFA manual, and students regularly enrolled in Agriculture Education, shall be eligible to show animals. A student may show until November 30th, following the fourth National FFA Convention after graduation from high school.

• Age is determined by the member’s age on October 1 of the current 4-H program year.
  • Cloverbuds: 5 to 7 years of age.
  • Junior: 8 to 10 years of age
  • Intermediate: 11 to 13 years of age.
  • Senior: 14 to less than 19 years of age

• Entries are open to Exhibitors ages 8 – 21 years, as of October 1st, 2024.
  • Juniors may exhibit all species EXCEPT steers.
• Age is determined by the member’s age on October 1, 2024.
  • Junior: 8 to 10 years of age
  • Intermediate: 11 to 13 years of age
  • Senior: 14 to less than 21 years of age

• Students between the ages of 12 and 21, in grades 7–12, who are enrolled in an agricultural education course at their school. Grades are for the current school year.

• Allowable dress: Exhibitor's clothing should be neat and clean. Clothing must always include a shirt and pants or their equivalent. Exhibitors must always wear closed-toed shoes in stalls and exhibit areas. Clothing must be made of opaque materials (not able to be seen through) and have fabric on both the front, back, and sides. Clothing must be suitable for scheduled activities, mainly when unique hazards exist or safety gear is needed. Specialized attire may be required. County Fair shirts and apparel that follow 4-H emblem guidelines are allowed. (Examples: Yearly Fair theme shirts, club shirts, 4-H KYG shirts, 4-H Teen conference, 4-H regional and national event shirts). Though you may not be exhibiting, if you are in the Exhibitor’s area or barn, the public sees you as representing the Fair and your organization, so you must follow dress guidelines.
• Non-allowed dress: Articles of clothing that display profanity, nudity, pornography, or sexual connotations, and slogans that promote tobacco, alcohol, drugs, sex, or gang symbols or affiliation are prohibited. Clothing featuring political or consumer brands is prohibited in barns or show areas. Items of clothing that expose bare midriffs, bare chests, undergarments, or that are transparent (see-through) are prohibited. Halter tops, tube shirts, and spaghetti straps are not appropriate. Super short shorts or skirts, even with leggings, are not acceptable. Individual project areas may have specific clothing/dress code requirements. If you choose to dress inappropriately, you will be asked to change. If dress becomes a continuing issue, Exhibitors may be asked to leave the Fairgrounds.

• Official Dress for an FFA member includes:
  • An official FFA jacket zipped to the top.
  • Black slacks and black socks/nylons or black skirt and black nylons.
  • White collared blouse or white collared shirt.
  • Official FFA tie or official FFA scarf.
  • Black dress shoes with closed heels and toes.

• Animal pens, stalls, cages, and exhibit areas must be clean by 10:00 a.m. daily.
• Failure to meet the minimum standards of care as defined by the department Superintendent shall be cause for filing a Herdsmanship/Exhibitorship violation statement to the Fair Office, no later than 12 noon the Monday after Fair. The following are potential ramifications of such a violation.
  • Loss of premium points from the premium point total.
  • Forfeiture of all premiums and awards, including placements.
  • Loss of eligibility to show at Pierce County Fair events.
  • Loss of representation rights for further competition (State Fair).
  • Herdsmanship/Exhibitorship in youth project areas is the responsibility of the youth exhibitors, not parents.
• All animals must be un-blanketed (from 10 a.m.-9 p.m.) each day of the Fair except on the day the animals are washed prior to judging. In the event of extremely bad weather conditions, blanketing may be permitted when authorized by the Superintendent.
• The Fair is open to the public for viewing until 9 p.m., and the animal exhibits are an exceptionally popular favorite for them to see.
• Herdsmanship/Exhibitorship will run 10 am-9 pm, Thursday-Saturday, and 10 am-6 pm on Sunday. There must be at least one person present for safety reasons. Herdsmanship/Exhibitorship ends on Sunday when the exhibit area has been cleared of all animals and/or displays and cleaned.
• Clubs with members exhibiting in the Grange building and Frontier Lodge are encouraged to work on Exhibitorship duty.
• Sign up for a given period of time in blocks of 2 to 4 hours. Members must dress appropriately, meet and interact with the public, keep a watchful eye on exhibits, maintain exhibits, and keep exhibit areas clean and attractive.
• Each attendant will wear the Exhibit Attendant Badge and apron. Report to the superintendent or their assistant at least 5 minutes before the shift starts for instructions.
• An adult will also be assigned to aid the attendant when needed.
• Groups must sign up for the time schedule in which they plan to participate. Small clubs can work together.

• Members of Chapters who receive less than a 75% average score on herdsmanship will lose their premium money for that Division. Affected Advisors (or responsible parents) will be notified by the third day of the show if their chapter is not meeting the standard.

• Stalls, pens, and cages will be assigned by the Department Superintendent. Failure to comply will result in the loss of ribbons and premiums.
• The Fairgrounds will be secured starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 2nd.
• For transportation logistics, animals arriving prior to vet check must remain in trailers in the parking lot until vet check. No horses or livestock will be allowed on the fairgrounds prior to vet check at the fairgrounds.
• Due to safety concerns, vehicle traffic may be restricted on the grounds during the hours of vet check.
• ALL animal exhibitors are responsible for cleaning up after their animals and helping to clean up vet check and paths to the barns.

• No FFA and 4-H animal will be admitted to the Fairgrounds before 4 p.m. or after 8 p.m., Wednesday, August 6th, and must not be put in stalls, pens, or cages before the animal(s) have been inspected by a Fair-approved veterinarian.
• Swine projects will be vet checked in the trailer, then driven to the swine barn.
• Sheep projects will be checked in at the parking lot (follow signs/directions). DO NOT UNLOAD! Once checked in and vet checked, the sheep will be walked in following the marked path.

• No animal will be admitted to the Fairgrounds before 12 p.m. (Noon) or after 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 6th, and must not be put in stalls, pens, or cages before the animal(s) has been inspected by a Fair-approved veterinarian. Steer, lamb, swine, and sheep vet check will be between 12 p.m. (Noon) and 3:30 p.m. Rabbit and poultry vet check will be between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
• The Pierce County Youth Market Sale's sifting committee shall inspect all animals entered in the division during weigh-in. If the animal does not meet weight limits, the exhibit will be eliminated from the auction. The exhibitor may discuss options with Fair Management his/her entry and potentially show it in the appropriate division, class & lot, not associated with the market animal sale. Exhibitors must be present for inspection and weigh-in. NO PROXIES ALLOWED WITHOUT PRIOR SALE COMMITTEE APPROVAL.
• No animal will be weighed without a completed Market Health Record.
• Sellers of market steers at the final weigh-in must complete and hand in a hauling slip and bill of sale if the animal is branded.

• 4-H, FFA, and Open Class (Non-Pierce County Youth Market Sale Animal) Premium Checks are issued by the Pierce County Fair Association.
• Pierce County Youth Market Sale Premium Checks are issued by the Pierce County Fair Foundation.
  • Premium checks will not be considered “abandoned” property under R.C.W. 63.29 but will be considered a donation by the payee to the Pierce County Fair. Premium account checks will NOT be issued or reissued after December 31, 2025.
  • Please cash checks as soon as possible; checks are void after 90days
  • Department Superintendents who have determined that an Exhibitor is to be disciplined for infractions of the Pierce County Fair Rules by either dismissal, loss of premium points, loss of ribbons, or loss of awards must complete form PCFR 101 no later than 9 p.m. on the last day of the Fair.
  • Any decisions regarding 4-H Exhibitors must include and be supported by 4-H Staff.
  • Any decisions regarding FFA Members must include and be supported by the FFA Advisor.
  • Exhibitors with total premiums that equal a combined monetary amount below $1.00 will not receive a payment distribution.
  • Questions about 4-H, FFA, Open Class (Non-Pierce County Youth Market Sale Animal) premiums may be directed towards the Fair Bookkeeper. bookkeeper@piercecountyfair.com

• Premium money for Open Class Exhibitors may be paid as noted in each area.
• Premium money may be paid to those FFA members who are enrolled in the FFA organizational programs in Pierce County.
• Open Class and FFA premium checks will be mailed to the exhibitor’s address, as it appears in FairEntry, beginning the first week in September (maybe sooner).
• Exhibitors with total premiums that equal a combined monetary amount below $1.00 will not receive a payment distribution.
• It is the responsibility of the Exhibitor to make sure their address is correct in FairEntry.

• Proceeds of the sale will be distributed to sellers/exhibitors or their assignors after payments have been received from all buyers. No payment will be made to the seller/exhibitor until the treasurer has collected all proceeds of the sale.
• A 4% commission will be deducted from all revenues (not including add-ons) to cover the cost of facilitating the sale.
• It is the responsibility of the Exhibitor to make sure their address is correct in Market Sale FairEntry.
• In order to receive sale and premium money, the Exhibitor must complete the following:
  • Complete and turn in an approved Health Record form and Youth Project Record Book for project animal being shown.
  • Participate in Showmanship and Type
  • Participate in Herdsmanship for the duration of time that the project animal is present.
  • Complete an informational poster or educational display (separate of that from other animal project posters - cannot use one poster for multiple division requirements)
  • Abide by all Show Rules
  • Complete and return thank-you notes for ALL buyers to the Fair Office after the sale.
• Questions about Pierce County Youth Market Sale premiums may be directed towards the Pierce County Youth Market Sale Treasurer, info@pcyms.org

• All sheep over 18 months of age (ewes, rams, and wethers).
• All sheep and registered goats that are sold for breeding purposes, regardless of age (including sheep less than 18 months of age).
• All sexually intact sheep (rams and ewes) and all sexually intact goats (bucks and does) going to a show, demonstration, or exhibition.
• All goats that are sold and used primarily for milk production.
• All scrapie-exposed, suspect, high-risk, and test-positive sheep and goats.