General Rules

Eligibility

Entries are open to Calhoun County residents and must be enrolled in a public, private, or home school program

Important Dates

Entry/Registration: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11
Entry Pickup: 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18
Cash Premium Pickup: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17

Entry Rules

Exhibitor’s Work: All entries must be the complete work of the exhibitor. Entries must have been completed within one calendar year of the previous fair. Entries exhibited in previous years are not eligible. All entries must be clean, undamaged and finished.

Previously Judged Entries: An entry that has previously been entered and judged at the Calhoun County Fair may not be exhibited or judged again.

Number of Entries: Participants may enter multiple items in a division, but only one entry per class.

Following Division Rules: Entries that do not meet Adult & Youth Show rules may be disqualified, including during judging. Acceptance at check-in does not guarantee that an entry meets all requirements. Food requiring refrigeration will not be accepted.

Acceptance of Entries: Department superintendents oversee entries and may accept or reject an entry based on its condition or suitability. The Calhoun County Fair also reserves the right to refuse entries deemed inappropriate for the fair.

Check-In: Entries must be brought to the Bauer Exhibit Building from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. No late entries will be accepted. Entry tags must be completed and attached before check-in with the department superintendent. Food entries must include a copy of the recipe without the participant’s name.

Judging: Entries will be judged and ribbons awarded according to the scores received.

Loss or Damage: Every precaution will be taken to protect entries, but the Calhoun County Fair Association is not responsible for damage or theft.

Entry Pickup: All entries must be picked up from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18. Unclaimed entries may be donated to a local charitable organization, and the fair is not responsible for items that are not picked up.

Age Categories

Day Care/Preschool: Ribbons only
Sub-Junior: Ages 4-8
Junior: Ages 9-13
Senior: Ages 14-18
Adult: Ages 19-64
Senior Citizens: Ages 65 and older

Age is determined as of Aug. 31. Age categories do not apply to the School Art Department.

Categories with fewer than three entries may be combined at the director’s discretion.

Judging & Awards

Ribbons: Entries will be awarded ribbons based on merit.

Exhibitor Names: The exhibitor’s name will not be displayed until judging is complete.

Judges’ Decisions: Decisions of the judges are final. No appeals concerning placement will be heard.

During Judging: Only fair officials and judges are allowed in the exhibit area while judging is taking place.

Reclassification: Superintendents may reclassify an entry when necessary to comply with show rules or when they believe it is in the best interest of the entry.

Disqualification: Entries that do not meet the requirements may be disqualified by the superintendent. Additional requirements for individual divisions are listed on each division’s rules page.

Cash Premiums

Cash premiums are paid based on the highest ribbon earned per division per person.

Blue Ribbon — First Place: $3
Red Ribbon — Second Place: $2
White Ribbon — Third Place: $1

Grand Champion Rosette: $5
Reserve Champion Rosette: $4

Premium Pickup: Cash premiums must be picked up from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17. Premiums not picked up during the scheduled time will be forfeited.

In the event of a rainout or financial failure of the Calhoun County Fair, the Calhoun County Fair Association reserves the right to reduce its published premium list to an amount in proportion to the total receipts.