Only purple ribbon entries are eligible for overall champion awards. Overall awards
will be given at the judge’s discretion.
All animals are subject to examination by the livestock committee or veterinarian
and may be removed from the show and fairgrounds at their discretion.
Animals entered in the market stock classes may be purebred, grade or crossbred
All market animals shall be weighed in no later than the official county weigh-in
dates set by the committee. Weigh-ins must be coordinated through the local county
extension office. The 4-Her needs to have full possession of their project animal
at this time.
All market animals shall have a Marias Fair button with a green numbered tag in one
ear. All market steers (including Pens of Three animals) MUST also have "Cloverleaf,
current year, Cloverleaf" tattooed in the opposite ear. Tattoos will be checked at
the Official Marias Fair Weigh-in. If tattoo or Marias Fair button and tag are not
present, animals will be disqualified.
Each exhibitor may weigh in one spare market animal per species. All spares must be
weighed in according to Marias Fair weigh-in policy in rules number two and three
above. In the case of a pen of three, four market animals may be weighed in.
In the case of the death of an exhibitor’s Marias Fair market animal(s), the exhibitor
may purchase another exhibitor’s officially weighed-in Marias Fair market animal.
Animals weighed and tagged for market classes will not be allowed to be shown in breeding
classes.
All breeding stock must be identifiable with 4-H Clover tattoo, Association Registration
tattoo number, Bangs tag, or Scrapie tag through local Extension office by the official
hog weigh-in deadline each year. If no identifiable tattoo or tag is available, a
picture may be submitted instead. The 4-H'er needs to have full possession of their
project animal at this time.
All breeding animals competing for Special Breed Association Awards must have registration
papers available for inspection.
The Montana 4-H Livestock Drug Withdrawal Form will either be completed through the
online fair entry process or on paper. This verification is available to buyers if
requested.
Animals on tranquilizers or medication at the Fair will be sent home at the discretion
of the 4-H Livestock Committee and advisors.
Market animal members must take a Livestock Quality Assurance training every other
year.
Exhibitors will wear exhibitor tag numbers on the front for swine classes and on the
back for lamb and beef classes. Exhibitors DO NOT need to wear tags for the sale.
A $20.00 deposit per stall for all sheep and goat projects, and $50.00 per stall for
all beef and hog projects will be required at the time of registration. Fees will
be refunded when the stalls are cleaned. A deadline for stall cleanup will be set
following the animals being removed for slaughter. If stalls are left unclean after
the deadline, the deposit will be paid to any member or leader who cleans the stall.
Proper shoe attire—closed-toed leather shoes or boots—will be worn for all livestock
activities including weigh-ins and washing animals. The dress code for all livestock
shows will be:
Neat western attire
Leather shoes or boots
Western hat optional
No baseball caps, t-shirts or holes in clothing
Dairy showmen DO NOT need to wear white, but may if they choose
All market animals are to be weighed at the Marias Fairgrounds, Wednesday of Fair,
no later than 8:00 p.m.
Brand Inspections:
4-H market animal exhibitors must turn in all required Bills of Sale, Brand Inspections
and Travel Permits to the appropriate superintendent and/or brand inspector prior
to weigh-ins. Those not having necessary papers at weigh-in will not be permitted to stay.
All cattle (breeding and market) and horses must have a brand inspection to come into
Toole County from another county and must have another brand inspection upon leaving
the Marias Fair unless the cattle and horses are on a special show permit inspection
good up to one year.
If the cattle have been purchased from another breeder, the 4-H member must have a
Bill of Sale ready for the brand inspector when obtaining the inspection in the home
county, and at weigh-in at the Fair.
All sheep must have a permit to travel across county lines.
Swine do not require travel permits
Market animals may be re-weighed one time only. The animal will be re-weighed immediately
after they are backed off the scale and the scale is re-calibrated.
The 4-H Livestock Auction order will be a population based rotation, sorted randomly
by the 4-H fair-entry program. Champion and Reserve Champion animals will be placed
in the sale order by the Livestock Committee.
If the animal is ineligible for the 4-H Livestock Auction, 4-H youth may still participate
in the Showmanship portion of the livestock show.
All Large Animal entries will be interview judged on Wednesday in the Exhibit Building.
All Large Animal members must be interviewed on each project. Educational displays
and Independent Study exhibits will also be judged in the Exhibit Building on Wednesday
and will be displayed in the Exhibit Building. Fleece will be judged at the sheep
show and exhibited at the Exhibit Building.
The 4-H member must have his or her Fair Feed Worksheet (members will receive this
in the June fair packet along with stall cards and entry tags) available for discussion
and display to the judge during their interview.
Pens of three market animals will be stalled on the Fairgrounds with the rest of the
market animals. One animal can be taken from such a pen and shown as a single for
the Showmanship and Market competitions and sold at the 4-H Livestock Auction.
All 4-H livestock projects will be judged for herdsmanship. Members exhibiting 4-H
beef, sheep, swine, dairy and goats will be judged on the following:
All animals must be fed, watered and groomed by 10:00 a.m. each day, and must remain
in the barn until 7 p.m. Gross violations will result in disqualification from any
livestock project for one year. Disqualifications will be determined by the Livestock
Committee.
Bedding will be furnished by the Marias Fair Board. Wet or dirty bedding will be disposed
of as instructed by the Barn Superintendent. All livestock bedding must be properly
disposed of before being dismissed by the Barn Superintendent.
Each member is responsible for bringing their own equipment (wheelbarrow, forks, etc.).
No washing of ANY animals is to take place during the livestock judging contest on
Friday.
Properly feed and provide clean water at least twice a day and when prudent livestock
management dictates.
Keep the aisle in front of and around their exhibit free of manure, excess bedding,
equipment and garbage.
Provide clean bedding for their animals as often as necessary for a proper 4-H exhibit.
Have all fitting and showing equipment and herdsmanship tools (pitch forks) stored
properly in non-exhibit locations, appropriate containers or tack boxes.
Maintain a fit and clean appearance to their animals during normal fair hours.
Maintain their display in a way so as not to endanger the public.
Properly exhibit 4-H display cards above their animal exhibits.
No adults are allowed to fit livestock for show. 4-H animals shown in Open Class cannot
be fitted by a Professional Fitter until after the 4-H Show. Barn Superintendents
have powers of enforcement regarding this rule.
All exhibitors must show their own animal. If having more than one animal exhibited
in a class, the exhibitor has the choice of selecting one for the SHOWMANSHIP contest.
The swine and beef Showmanship Contests will be held in conjunction with Market judging
starting at the times designated in the fair calendar. The classes will be divided
into groups of exhibitors based on the animal’s weight and the exhibitor’s level:
lights to heavy with Seniors first, Juniors second, and Pre-Juniors third. From these
DEPARTMENTs, Showmanship and Market Judges will award ribbons and determine a call
back competition for each lot number.
The top two from Overall Showmanship contests will proceed to Round Robin. The judge
will select a third-place winner in each species to serve as an alternate for the
Round Robin in case the first or second place showman is either unable to attend or
is is Grand or Reserve showman in more than one contest. A contestant who wins in
multiple species will be able to choose the species they would like to represent for
the Round Robin competition.
All barns will be secured from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m., with the exception of Thursday
prior to the 4-H Swine Show. If you need anything during those hours, contact the
Barn Superintendent.
Livestock must be fed and cared for by the exhibitor. Adults caught doing a 4-H member’s
chores will cause the 4-H member to forfeit all livestock premium points.
Any individual that does not show in both Market and Showmanship Contests in that
class of livestock will not be able to sell an animal in that class in the 4-H Livestock
Auction Sale.
During the 4-H Livestock Auction, barn area must be vacated to avoid congestion problems.
All animals entered in any class under the market stock lot number WILL BE SOLD UNLESS:
the words "NOT FOR SALE" are clearly written on the entry blank and posted in barns with animals
or, the owner(s) of Grand or Reserve Champion animals wish to retain their animal(s)
for entry at another show
or, the animal(s) do not meet the weight requirement minimums under the market stock
lot numbers.
Every 4-H member can sell:
One Market Beef or
One Market Swine or
One Market Lamb or
One Market Swine and One Market Lamb
One Market Swine and One Market Goat
One Market Lamb and One Market Goat
Exception: If market animal designated “not for sale” on livestock registration form in June
receives grand or reserve champion in a market class the member may sell both animals.
Example: Youth is taking both a market steer and a swine. Youth designates the steer “for
sale” on the livestock registration sheet in June. Youth wins Grand or Reserve Market
Swine. Youth is allowed to sell second animal (the swine that was designated “not
for sale” in June).
Youth must be present for the sale. Youth missing their turn in the sale order will
be moved to the end of the sale.
If the market animal does not make the minimum weight requirement or is ineligible
for the 4-H Livestock Auction, it may be sold by private treaty AFTER the Auction.
NO SIGNS may be posted until AFTER the Auction.
Animals declared for sale will be SOLD AT AUCTION on the Marias Fairgrounds at the designated time. Overweight Market Animals (Swine,
Sheep, Beef, Goat) will have a recorded sale weight not exceeding maximum
allowable weight. (i.e. If animal is over maximum weight, it will be sold at maximum
weight only.)
All animals sold at auction will remain on exhibit and be cared for by the exhibitor
until check-out time Sunday morning. The exhibitor shall release the animal to the
care of the Livestock Committee for transport to the processor at the designated release
time on Sunday.
Sales costs, if any, will be pro-rated on a 4% basis.
The cost of one photograph and buyer thank you poster will be withheld from each 4-H member for every
4-H Market Livestock Project sold at the Auction Sale. Additional photographs requested
by member will be between photographer and 4-H member.
Members are encouraged to write a thank you letter to the buyer(s) of their animal
to accompany one of the photos and a 4-H Thank-you poster.
Livestock Entry Card Corrections - If a member brings an animal to the fair other than the one entered on FairEntry,
changes need to be made to their entry card before proceeding to the scale. Member’s need to know their animal’s tag number in order to make corrections.
Bullseye Herdsmanship Program - Members will receive a “bullseye” on their pen if
their animal is not fed, watered, or the bedding is not cleaned to the standards of
the Barn Superintendent. The bullseye will be stamped with the time and the 4-H member
must have the situation remedied within two hours of the timestamp on the bullseye
or the member will be asked to take their animal home and will no longer be eligible
to show or sell their animal.
Maximum sale Participation Weight – Any animal weighing 12% or more above the maximum
payweight will NOT be eligible to sell in the market livestock sale. Those animals
may participate in the show (showmanship only) but will not be able to sell. Maximum
sale participation weights are:
Beef – 1,680
Lambs – 185
Swine – 336
Goats – 123
Liberty County:
Liberty County Courthouse P.O. Box 607 111 First Street East Chester MT 59522 Tel: (406)-759-5625
