Welcome to the 2016 Polk County Fair Here are some last minute fair details that will hopefully answer many of your questions. Best of luck to you all!

GENERAL FAIR Camping - Quite hours are from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. -- Curfew is at 11 p.m. Keep your area clean, and leave it clean when Fair is over. 4-H’ers need a written pass from Superintendent if going to barn to check on animals after 10 p.m. No alcohol or drugs allowed on the fairgrounds.

State Fair - Entry forms for 4-H Horse are due by 12 noon, Saturday in the 4-H Building Entry forms for 4-H Livestock & Dogs are due by 2 p.m., Sunday in the 4-H Building Exhibits inside the 4-H Building that are selected for State Fair are automatically entered and no entry form is needed.

Premium Money - Thanks to generous donors, 4-H & FFA Premiums are being given this year. Premium vouchers may be cashed in at the Premium Payout Office on the Fairgrounds. Premium money, not picked up by 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, will be forfeited.

Thank You Notes - Thank you notes are required for all 4-H awards won at County Fair, and any FFA awards that are sponsored thru the 4-H Office. A “blue” info sheet is given to each award winner with details on how to do your thank you note. If you have any questions, please ask someone in the 4-H Building.

Polk County Fair, Open Class Youth Division - Have left over cookies, the back-up container garden, the next best cut flower, how about the photo you matted but decided to enter the other one? Don't forget about the open class youth division. Check out the Polk County Open Class Fairbook.

Parking – You’ll get your parking pass with your wrist band. The pass will allow you to park for free. Unless you have small animals, the best location to park is by entering the Nesmith Park entrance by turning to the left as you come in the main entrance and park to the north of the large animal barns.

Please note: the parking area due north from the horse barn is reserved for Rodeo parking on Thursday. You will not be able to park in that area.

Exiting the Fairgrounds - When you exit Nesmith Park parking area, turn left, enter the fairgrounds and make an immediate right turn and drive across the Park/Ride area and exit by the Museum. The improvements to the fairgrounds and the inclusion of the Park/Ride have resulted in ONE WAY entrance and ONE WAY exit.

Reminder to all in the barn areas with animals – please wear closed toed shoes with hard soles in all the barns….yes….even when on herdsmanship duty. Parents/adults – if you’re helping to run the gate, ring steward for the show ring or clerking – you need to be wearing closed toed shoes with hard soles as well.

This year we will be having a Pancake Breakfast in the dining room on Sunday morning from 7 to 9 – all 4-Her’s will get in for free with your wrist band, all Fair Volunteers and Superintendent with your blue fair shirt and name badge will get in free. Superintendents will be given breakfast coupons for folks who volunteer in their barns. Additional breakfast tickets can be purchased for $3.00 from the Fair Office. Thanks to the Fairboard and Jesus and his kitchen crew for helping to sponsor our breakfast. Note: Animal awards for herdsmanship, best decorations, etc. will be at 8am.

Move out schedule as follows: o NO removal of displays, exhibits, decorations, or animals may be done on Saturday night. o 8am – Static and Horticulture exhibits released o 9 am – Horses released o 10am – All animals released. Exhibit areas must be thoroughly cleaned before leaving the Fairgrounds. All exhibitors are expected to be present to assist with clean-up and haul out.

Herdsmanship – we’ve made an attempt to be a bit clearer on the point spread for herdsmanship….

MEMBERS (40 points) if observed; member's continuous attendance in exhibit area not required. Appearance (neat, clean, suitably dressed) 5 points Cooperation (between members and with leaders, fairground management, and other clubs) 5 points Courtesy, cooperation, friendliness, positive attitude 5 points Work done by members 7 points Stall cards (neat and complete) 10 points Decorations appropriate 8 points ANIMALS (30 points) Clean and comfortable15 points Regularly fed and cared for 10 points Securely and safely tied, penned or stalled 10 points Horses unsaddled in stalls5 points BARN AREA (30 points) Clean and orderly 10 points Alleys, stalls, pens (cleaned regularly, well bedded) 15 points Feed and equipment (securely and safely stored) 5 points

Fair Schedule – We’ve turned the fair schedule into a Qr code again this year. Watch for the code posted in the barns and 4-H building….to scan with your phone

A word about sportsmanship - By your act of entering the Fair – YOU are ASKING for judge’s opinion. Remember – it’s ONE judge’s opinion on one particular day for one singular performance. If you don’t want the judges’ opinion….don’t ask for it. Confronting the judge or trashing the judge/show/fair/4-H on Facebook or other social media is not acceptable. This goes for kids, parents, leaders, friends and family. It’s not the correct forum for airing “dirty laundry.” It just reflects poorly on you, your club, your county and your program.

Remember…..everyone is watching….and you are a role model at all times. With everyone with a cell phone taking pictures and videos out there of everything, your situation may not look “appropriate” taken out of context. So think before you make a foolish mistake that can tarnish your reputation for life or potentially remove you from fair or the 4-H program.

Fair Vet

Dr. Tom Keck, DVM - 503-623-3943

A gentle reminder for Cloverbuds - no handling animals at fair or assisting with herdsmanship. We have added the Cloverbud Show-n-Tell section for the Exhibit Building during static day.

Fair is a great time to recruit for next year….we’ll have 4-H interest forms available in each of the barns and the 4-H building at the fair.

Still needing some help….. o Chalk the parking lot – Can anyone help us with chalking the Nesmith Park parking lot…..see Tina in the fair office o FLOWERS – we need flowers for the flower arranging contest. Bring in a bucket to the back of the old 4-H Exhibit building. You won’t be home this week to enjoy your flowers at home….we can really use them for the flower arranging contest. Archery kids – Glen needs you there about 9 am on Saturday in the horse arena to help set up the bales for the competition. Thanks, Glen STATIC and HORTICULTURE Static awards not presented on stage – winners and donors will be recognized all week. If your static exhibit has an award posted on it, come to the 4-H Office, pick up your thank you note, write your note and turn into the 4-H Office to receive your award.

If you’re participating in the flower arranging contest, please bring your own clippers with your name clearly marked on them. Remember, we can always use donations of flowers for the contest.

Be sure to read the appropriate section of General Fair information.

HORSE

From your Superintendent: I would like an announcement to go to Horse 4-H kids and parents: All horse kids and parents are invited to come to horse fair on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and cheer on the riders. We will also need help on those days setting up Dressage, jumping, trail and gaming events and we would appreciate every minute you can spare. On Friday, August 12th, the horse clubs will have Grand Entry at 2:00 in the horse arena. All horse 4-H kids are invited to participate with their clubs. You can walk in with your club or bring your horse and ride in. At this event we will announce all the horse clubs, give out awards for events, honor our graduating senior and acknowledge our state fair team. This is a very fun event for everyone. Carol •

Remember Bio-Security when you get home….keep your fair animals separated from the rest of your animals until you are sure you haven’t brought anything more home from the fair than your buckets and hose.

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Note the Oregon 4-H Animal Science Ethical Standards – on how you care for and treat your animals. Also included are the National Code of Show Ring Ethics

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Every stall must have a stall card clearly displayed. Please take a moment to include an emergency name and number on the back of the stall card and where you are staying, for risk management purposes.

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Horse Trailer Parking - If you are NOT stalling at the fair and will be hauling your horse in each day, you are requested to park in the areas to the east of the horse barn (where you parked for Pre-Fair). For those stalling and leaving your horse trailers on the grounds, you should be parked at the southeast end of the camping area, by the manure pile along the southeast fence line.

LARGE ANIMAL Barn Meeting - Wednesday, August 10th. Don't head home right after you get your animals settled. There is a MANDATORY Barn Meeting at 8 pm in the swine show ring. You'll get to meet all the Superintendents and learn about additional fair details and announcements.

Animal awards - will be presented in show rings. Live animal award (Holstein calf) will be presented during the Dairy show along with Friend of 4-H Award recognizing Jack Platt for his many years of donating the calf for the Dairy Live Animal Award.

Auction kids - Remember 7am Auction meeting in the Swine Barn on Thursday morning.

Remember Bio-Security when you get home….keep your fair animals separated from the rest of your animals until you are sure you haven’t brought anything more home from the fair than your buckets and hose.

Note the Oregon 4-H Animal Science Ethical Standards – on how you care for and treat your animals as well as the National Code of Show Ring Ethics found in your Fairbook. Stall cards - Every pen must have a stall card clearly displayed. Please take a moment to include an emergency name and number on the back of the stall card and where you are staying. For risk management purposes.

Oil on pigs – the State 4-H has removed the rule of no oil on pigs. You may use oil – but wash your pig after the conclusion of the show.

AUCTION details • Market Meeting: Thursday, at 7:00am in the Swine Barn • Weigh-in Help: Need help on Wednesday with weigh-in. Contact Lynn Letsch Thomas if you can help. • Thank You Note Assistance: Could use help on Wednesday to check and proof read thank you notes if they are acceptable, need by 7. Contact Lynn Letsch Thomas if you can help. • Remember: Dress for your Auction picture wearing your show clothes; thank you notes must be turned in by 7 and approved. Note: if you anticipate or end up with multiple buyers, you’ll need to write a thank you for each buyer. •

Remember: Your Feed/Growth Records and your COOL forms.

• Livestock Market Info - Questions on Market Program and Auction email Lynn Thomas or call Lynn at 503-949-1684 or Courtney Olsson at 503-559-0767. • Oil on pigs – the State 4-H has removed the rule of no oil on pigs. You may use oil – but wash your pig after the conclusion of the show.

SMALL ANIMAL

Barn Meeting - Wednesday, August 10th. Don't head home right after you get your animals settled. There is a MANDATORY Barn Meeting at 8 pm in the swine show ring. You'll get to meet all the Superintendents and learn about additional fair details and announcements.

ALL Small Animal members - Bring frozen water bottles to put in your pens with your animals during the heat. Bring from home for the first few days to mix with the fair water until your animals get used to the different water.

Small animal families – for fair clean up, we need additional power washers we can borrow, a blower and lots of push brooms. Please clearly mark with your names, so we can get the correct ones back to you. Remember the more equipment we have the faster we can get cleaned up and the faster you can get home.

Auction kids - Remember 7am Auction meeting in the Swine Barn on Thursday morning.

Poultry Testing - Poultry Pullorum testing will take place, Friday August 12th, 3:00pm in Building C. Poultry members please be available in your pen area.

Turkey kids - Remember, you may need cardboard between your cages if your birds fight with the ones next to them. Bring 2 liter bottles, tuna or cat food cans that can be wired in the corners for food and water. Bring water from home for the first few days to introduce your birds in the fair water.

Rabbit members – Please pay close attention to your rabbits. Watch for those “not acting right”they might be off their feed, not drinking, acting lethargic. Pay close attention to runny eyes and nose. If you have any of these symptoms, please leave your rabbits at home. We have had a positive case of Myxomatosis in the Yamhill Valley. Take special precautions at home - use bug spray, put up mosquito netting, and remove standing water from the area of your rabbit cages.

Cat members – please remember your cages must be in place on Wednesday by 8pm in order to be judged on Thursday morning.

Remember Bio-Security when you get home….keep your fair animals separated from the rest of your animals until you are sure you haven’t brought anything more home from the fair than your buckets and hose.

Note the Oregon 4-H Animal Science Ethical Standards – on how you care for and treat your animals. Also included are the National Code of Show Ring Ethics in your Fairbook. Every pen must have a stall card clearly displayed. Please take a moment to include an emergency name and number on the back of the stall card and where you are staying. For risk management purposes so we know how to reach you in case of emergency.

Susan L. Busler Extension Faculty/County Leader 4-H/Youth Development Polk County Email: [email protected]

OSU/Polk County Extension 289 East Ellendale, Suite 301 Dallas, OR 97338 Phone: 503-623-8395 Work cell phone: 503-877-7191 Web page: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/polk/