General Rules

  1. LIABILITY: The Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc. will in no way be responsible for any loss or accountable damage to exhibits. Each exhibitor will be responsible for any loss or damage done to, or caused by, or arising from any entry or exhibit.
  2. DISPUTES AND PROTESTS: All protests on other matters must be in writing and accompanied by a deposit of $100, which will be forfeited if the protest is not sustained. Such protest must plainly state the cause of the complaint or appeal, and must be delivered to the Secretary of the show immediately after the occasion for such protest. All protests will be reviewed by the Executive Board of the Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc.
  3. VIOLATION OF RULES: If any exhibitor violates the rules, he or she will be disqualified from further show at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
  4. ELIGIBILITY: Youth exhibitors and contestants suspended under Texas Education Code 33.081 "No Pass, No Play" are ineligible to participate in the Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc. activity, event competition. Any animal owned by an ineligible exhibitor is ineligible for competition. All Hays County 4H and FFA exhibitors are considered to be eligible by the Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc. to participate in the Youth Livestock Show at the time entries are received from the AST/CEA. Any AST/CEA who has a member in his/her 4H or FFA program who becomes ineligible to participate in the Youth Livestock Show according to the Texas Education Code must provide written and signed notification to the Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc. board appropriate Superintendent of the Livestock Show at least 24 hours prior to any weighing, sifting, classifying or judging. If such notification is NOT received at least 24 hours prior to the beginning of weigh in, the Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc. exhibitor is ineligible to participate.
  5. OWNERSHIP:
    1. All animals and poultry shown by an exhibitor shall be owned and cared for and in possession of the exhibitor from the time specified below and certified by County Agent, Vocational Ag Teacher, or Adult Leader.
      1. Turkeys ---------------------- Order County Agent (June)
      2. Steers ----------------------- 1 October
      3. Lambs ------------------------ 1 October
      4. Swine ------------------------ 1 November
      5. Horse ------------------------ 1 November
      6. Broilers --------------------- Order County Agent (September)
      7. Rabbits ---------------------- 10 January
      8. Wether Goats ----------------- 1 October
      9. Breeding Meat Goats ---------- 1 October
      10. Breeding Ewes ---------------- 1 October
      11. Breeding Gilts --------------- 1 November
      12. Breeding Cattle -------------- 1 October
      13. Breeding Rabbits ------------- 10 January
    2. Once ownership is declared at the scales, it will not be changed.
    3. Any exhibitor may enter no more than 2 (two) entries in each market division.
    4. Any exhibitor may enter no more than 2 (two) entries in each breeding division.
  6. ENTRY DEADLINE:
    1. All entries are to be submitted to the treasurer of the Hays County Livestock Exposition, Inc. Entries must be turned in no later than DECEMBER 1, 2008. The entry form must show the number of head, breed, division. NO REFUNDS ON ENTRY FEES. Late entries will be accepted December 2nd - 20th, 2008 with an additional late fee of $100.00. No application will be accepted after the 20th for any reason. NO EXCEPTIONS! No CASH ACCEPTED, entry fees must be paid by check, cashiers check or money order.
    2. VALIDATION DEADLINE: All Validated Animals will be validated on their respective dates as stated in their Division Rules. Under no circumstances will there be a late validation.
    3. One exhibitor may not win both the Grand Champion and the Reserve Champion in the same market division.
    4. Any animal deemed uncontrollable by superintendent will be removed from the show grounds by the exhibitor.
    5. Fees for Entry are as follows:
      1. Steers---------------------$15.00
      2. Lambs----------------------$10.00
      3. Swine----------------------$10.00
      4. Horse----------------------$10.00 Halter/10.00 Performance
      5. Turkeys--------------------$10.00
      6. Pen of Broilers------------$10.00
      7. Pen of Rabbits-------------$10.00
      8. Breeding Rabbits-----------$10.00
      9. Breeding Beef--------------$15.00
      10. Breeding Sheep or Goats----$10.00
      11. Breeding Swine-------------$10.00
      12. Wether Goats---------------$10.00
  7. WEIGHING: All market animals will be weighed on scales at the show barn one time only at weigh in. Protests, as to weights of animals must be made on the scale.
  8. SIFTING: All animals and poultry brought to the show must be of sufficient quality. A sifting committee will inspect all animals and poultry. All weighing and sifting will be scheduled by the Board of Directors. All animals must be weighed, and classified at weigh-in time, as required by Division Rules. All judge's and classifiers decisions will be final and may not be protested. One or more classifiers may be used in each division at the discretion of the Association.
  9. RULE CHANGES: Any rule which falls under the heading "Livestock Divisions" shall not be changed or altered in any way after the rules have been presented at the April General Membership Meeting until after the succeeding January Hays County Youth Show.
  10. SHOWMANSHIP: Awards will be made in sheep, beef, swine, poultry, rabbit, and goat divisions. A separate showmanship class will be held after sheep, beef, swine, poultry, rabbit, and goat divisions judging. Senior Showmanship Class is defined as 14 years and over, Junior Showmanship Class is defined as 11-13 years and Pre-Junior is defined as 8-10 as of August 31st prior to the show. No entry fee will be charged and any participant with entry in a division may participate in that division. Exhibitors must be entered in that division to participate in showmanship. Showmanship Ag Mechanics - Showmanship award to be presented to 1 Junior and 1 Senior participant.
  11. GROOMING: Only Hays County Agriculture Teachers, County Agent; 4-H and FFA Leaders, and parents may assist exhibitors with grooming on show grounds during the Hays County Youth Show. NO CLIPPING ALLOWED ON SHOW GROUNDS.
  12. HORSE SHOWMANSHIP: Rules under horse division rules. Senior Showmanship Class is defined as 14 years and over; Junior Showmanship Class is defined as 8-13 years as of August 31 prior to the show.
  13. ANIMAL ELIGIBILITY: Any animal entered in market division is not eligible for the Breeding Show.
  14. NO WATER OR FEEDERS will be left unattended in pens or stalls for livestock except poultry and rabbits. NO PERSONAL LOCKS PUT ON PENS. IF FOUND LOCKED, THE LOCKS WILL BE CUT OFF.
  15. RELEASE TIME will be set by division superintendents and release hours will be strictly enforced. ALL TAKE HOME ANIMALS MUST BE RELEASED BY DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT.
  16. County show tags should be placed in the animal's left ear with the tag facing up. Must have tag in place before entering grounds.
  17. RANDOM DRUG TESTING CAN AND MAY BE DONE OF THE ANIMALS AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SHOW BOARD.
  18. ALL Division Rules must be followed or animals will be sifted.
  19. NO Dogs will be allowed on the show grounds at any time except support dogs.
  20. Any behavior deemed unacceptable by the board will result in immediate removal from the grounds by security.
  21. If any parent or participant is found talking to the judge or ring steward during the show, the participant will be disqualified from the show.