Knox County 4-H Policies

KNOX COUNTY 4-H POLICIES

The following is a list of policies to guide 4-H club work in Knox County.

1. A member should not be counted absent from a local club meeting if attending a sanctioned 4-H activity.

2. A tour (either project or educational) and a local club achievement meeting can be counted as a regular meeting if a business meeting is held.

2. Only those projects on the club roster by May 1^st may be exhibited.

3. Each 4-Her must exhibit their own project. If a 4-H'er becomes ill, or there is illness or death in the family or in military service, they may be excused from the Show and have another Knox County 4-H member exhibit for them. Any other reason for not exhibiting must be acted upon by the 4-H General Show or Livestock Committee. In any event, the 4-Her should notify the division superintendent, if there is to be a change.

5. To attend State Fair in any 4-H project, a member must be ten (10) years of age as of September 1, 2006 and must be present at the Knox County 4-H Show for non-livestock exhibits to be eligible.

6. All 4-Hers receiving State Fair Cards for clothing (including knitting or crocheting apparel) will model before judges.

7. Any Knox County 4-H member who becomes involved in a major discipline situation will be barred from participation in any 4-H activity outside Knox County for a period of one year. A second infraction of good conduct at a 4-H function would be cause to disqualify the member from membership in Knox County 4-H.

8. Knox County 4-H premiums are determined by the number of exhibits and monies allotted from the state of Illinois Agricultural Premium Fund: Blue - 3x; Red - 2x; and White - 1x. Club exhibits: Blue - 3x; Red - 2x; and White - 1x.

9. See your leader to sign up for project exhibits. Late entries will not be accepted. (Leaders: Entries must be in the Extension Office on or before Friday, June 13, 2008.)

10. All livestock exhibits will be on the fairgrounds by 9:00 PM, Sunday, July 20. All non-livestock and small pets will be judged according to Conference Judging Schedule on Saturday morning, July 19. 4H'ers should be present at time of judging.

11. Beef animals will not be allowed to unload at the swine barn. Also, all beef animals must be double tied.

12. Each project must be groomed by the 4-H'er or with the assistance of their family or other 4-H member. All exhibitors of animals at any Illinois fair or exhibition (including the Knox County 4-H Show) shall comply with the provision of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act. If violations are observed, the animal(s) will be excused from exhibition and be ordered to be removed from the grounds with all awards being forfeited at the discretion of the Knox County 4-H Livestock Committee. As determined by fair officials, superintendents, veterinarians, any practice or deviation from normal humane husbandry practices, including, but not limited to artificial manipulations, physical abuse medical treatments or mechanical applications of any substance, other than on the prescription of a licensed veterinarian, will constitute a violation of show rules and are subject to the above provisions. Illinois Department of Agriculture personnel can collect blood or tissue or urine samples from any animal being exhibited and/or raced at any Illinois fair (including the Knox County 4-H Show) to test for the presence of illegal drugs.

13. Any 4-H member enrolled in Knox County 4-H and who is exhibiting at the 4-H Show may stay overnight during the show in the designated areas with the consent of their parents and with the knowledge of their 4-H leader and the 4-H office. Each club and club member is responsible for finding their own chaperons. Chaperon must be on approved chaperon list.

14. Each 4-H'er may exhibit only one entry per class unless specified otherwise.

15. Showmanship classes are open to all 4-Hers. NO pre-registration is required (except in horse and pony division). Ages: 8-10 Junior Division; 14-19 Senior Division; except for beef, sheep, swine and horses which may have an "Intermediate" Division (ages 11-13). Age at time of show.

16. Animals shown in the showmanship class must be owned by the 4-H member showing it, unless specified otherwise by the judge.

17. All livestock exhibited must have been fed by, cared for and been the property of the exhibitor during the required tenure of ownership and this project has not been cared for by a professional fitter or maintained at a professional fitter's facilities. Any time this project is at a professional fitter's for more than one days duration is cause for disqualification.

18. NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES PERMITTED ON THE FAIRGROUNDS ANYTIME BY ANYONE.

19. Any questions regarding a 4-H project unit, phase of show entry shall be decided upon by the 4-H General Show or Livestock Committee and their decision will be final.

SPECIAL NOTES: Occasionally a 4-H member's exhibit is left in the building after the 4-H Show is over. Please place your name on your item in an inconspicuous place so it can be returned to you. Flowers, food, plants, and vegetables will be discarded if not picked up. Items will be taken to the Extension office, and must be picked up by September 1. If not picked up, will be discarded.

In order to exhibit at the 2008 Knox County 4-H Show, you must have attended 50% of your 4-H club's meetings. If you were unable to attend 50% of the meetings, you will not be able to exhibit and therefore not able to take part in the livestock auction if applicable. The only exception to this rule is for college students and youth attending boarding school. These youth must have turned in a contract by May 1 of the current year stating their agreement with University of Illinois Extension to do volunteer work if they were unable to attend the required number of meetings.

(PLEASE NOTE: RECOMMENDED POSTER SIZE IS 22" X 30".)