General Animal Science Rules

EXHIBITOR REQUIREMENTS:

A.    The 4-H/FFA member must be enrolled in the Pima County 4-H Youth Development Program or a Pima County FFA Chapter no later than December 15th, 2024 of the current program year. Enrollments of member received or postmarked after this date will result in the member not being able to exhibit in the current year’s Pima County Fair. This is not reviewable by the Ethics Review Board.

B.    Exhibitor must comply with all membership requirements. The exhibitor must be enrolled at the Pima County Extension Office or with their FFA chapter Advisor no later than December 15th, 2024. Enrollments received or postmarked after this date may not exhibit in the 4-H/FFA Division of the current year’s Pima County Fair. Submitting an animal for tagging, testing, etc. or providing ownership papers to the project Coordinator will be accepted as evidence of intent to enroll in the project. Late paper work to the Project Coordinator will not be considered intent to enroll. This is not reviewable by the Ethics Review Board.

C.     4-H/FFA members must be in good standing with their local FFA Chapter or 4-H club. Members not in such standing show at the discretion of their Community Club Volunteer or Chapter Advisor. Any decision made by the FFA Chapter or 4-H Club is not reviewable by the Ethics Review Board.

D.    4-H/FFA members wishing to participate in breeding or market: beef, sheep, swine, breeding boer goats, meat goats, or dairy goats, dairy cattle, rabbit single fryer or meat pen, poultry fryer or roaster pen or squab pen must have participated in a Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA) Class prior to tagging or ownership dates. The member must provide proof of certification and it must be valid through the current year’s Pima County Fair. Individuals who have not met this requirement will not be allowed to bring animals to the Pima County Fair. This is not reviewable by the Ethics Review Board.

E.     An exhibitor may change their membership affiliation from either 4-H or FFA to the other with written approval from both the 4-H Agent and FFA Advisor involved. Such changes made after November 1st, of each year will not affect the current year’s exhibits.

F.     Exhibitors must be present when ear-tagging their animal(s) in for a Pima County Fair Market Large Livestock Project. This is not reviewable by the Ethics Review Committee. (Exception: Dog Project)

G.    Exhibitors must be present when weighing-in or checking their animal(s) in at the Pima County Fair. This is not reviewable by the Ethics Review Board.

H.    All animals must be checked in by the latest time allowed by that species, but in any event, not later than 8:00 p.m. on check in day. No animals will be allowed to check in late.

I.      Exhibitor must show his/her own animals(s) except in unusual circumstances such as sickness, family emergency, medical emergency, conflict in fair schedule or multiple animals in class. Other activities will not be considered an exception. The member is responsible to obtain permission from the Project Coordinator for a substitute. Only Pima County 4-H/FFA members currently enrolled in that project may act as a substitute. Violation of this rule will result in the exhibitor being barred from participating for one (1) year in future Pima County Fair in 4-H/FFA Divisions.

J.      It is the exhibitor’s responsibility to be aware of show schedules. No scheduling will be changed to accommodate exhibitors entered in conflicting classes.

K.     Special Needs are defined as a diagnosed condition experienced by exhibitors with mental/physical disabilities, which limit the exhibitor’s ability to show their project(s) by normal means. Members/Parents should notify the specific project coordinator and 4-H Agent with information on the condition as well as suggestions for reasonable accommodations prior to the Pima County Fair. Accommodations will be handled by either the 4-H Agent or FFA Advisor in cooperation with project coordinators and 4-H/FFA members on an individual basis. Please give 4-H and FFA ample notice to prepare accommodations.

L.     Repeated display of poor sportsmanship on the part of the exhibitor, parents, leader, or any abuse of an animal can result in dismissal from the Pima County Fair at the discretion of either the Project Coordinator, the show Superintendent, the 4-H Agent or the FFA Advisor in charge of the program.

M.   Exhibitors who receive Pima County Fair sanctions that result in arrest, a citation or expulsion from the fairgrounds are subject to further disciplinary action by the Pima County 4-H Youth Development Program. Consequences that are a result of this sanction are not open to appeal through the Ethics Review Board.

ANIMAL OWNERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

A.    All animals to be shown must be owned by the exhibitor. The exhibitor must provide proof of ownership as per the Arizona State Livestock Board requirements. Ownership and registration papers must be in the exhibitor's name or proof of possession of same documents at the time of ear-tagging, tattooing, or registration. Exception: school programs where ownership is held by the instructor prior to weigh-in.

B.    All requirements of the Arizona State Livestock Board must be met at the time of ear tagging, tattooing, or registration with the Project Coordinator. In all projects, NO SWITCHING FROM ONE CLASS TO ANOTHER WILL BE ALLOWED AFTER THE ENTRY FORM IS ACCEPTED. EXCEPTION: Dairy Goats having freshened; market animals to carcass animals (Sheep, Steer & Swine).

C.     All animals must be owned and in the possession of the 4-H/FFA member by their respective project ownership date, but no later than January 31st of the current 4-H year. EXCEPTION: Rabbit meat pen (Mother of Meat Pen must be owned by January 31st  of the Current 4-H year), Rabbit single fryer (Mother of fryer must be owned by January 31st of the Current 4-H year), Poultry fryer pen, Poultry broiler pen, and squab meat pen.

D.    All animals being shown at the Pima County Fair that are required by the State of Arizona Department of Agriculture to have a Seasonal Pass must be in the possession of the exhibitor at the time of check-in at Pima County Fair. A Seasonal Pass is required for exhibition of all cattle, sheep, goats and swine owned by Arizona residents and exhibited in Arizona according to state law and rule.

ANIMAL HEALTH AND CARE REQUIREMENTS

A. All exhibits are to display good health. Any animal showing evidence of disease, parasites, infestation, or deformation may be excused from the grounds immediately by either the Barn Superintendent, the appropriate Project Coordinator, the Show Superintendent, the 4-H Agent, or the FFA Advisor, jointly with a Veterinarian. Additionally, any exhibit that in the opinion of the above show officials is or is a hazard to spectators, members or volunteers will be removed from the fairgrounds immediately. This decision is not appealable.

B. Exhibitors are expected to do daily chores both prior to and during the Pima County Fair. If an exhibitor does not take DAILY care of his/her animal(s), in the feeding, watering, or cleaning grooming or pen/stall cleaning, he/she will be required to remove the animal after the first written warning has been given to the exhibitor, leader, or advisor, and the exhibitor will be barred from participating in the 2025 Pima County Fair. Major cleaning of pens must be done by 10:00 a.m. each day.

C. All Exhibitors must provide their own water and feed cups.

D. Animal grooming/exercise: Each animal must be groomed and exercised in its own designated area as defined by the Project Coordinator or Show Superintendent.

E. The Southwest Fair Commission requires a release slip from Project Coordinator or Show Superintendent, OR Show Management before any exhibit may be removed from the Fairgrounds. The Fair Commission requires all exhibits to be on display until 6:00 p.m. on the last Sunday of the fair, and may not be released unless otherwise notified. (Exception: Dog Project).

F. Any exhibitor removing animals without proper permission will be barred from participating for one year in the 4-H/FFA division of the Pima County Fair. EXCEPTION: Animals returned for Round Robin, Breeding Animals which are to be removed after the contest. (Exception: Dog Project)

 INTERPRETATION AND APPEAL:

A.    The interpretation of these general rules is the responsibility of the show management. Show Code of Ethics, C.

B.    Anyone wishing to file an appeal of the enforcement or interpretation of a specific rule may do so by filing an appeal according to the Show Code of Ethics, 

C.