Rules and Regulations

Governing the One Hundred Fifty-fourth Annual Fair of the Knox County Agricultural Board. Every Rule laid down in this Premium List will be strictly adhered to and no exceptions whatever made.

RIGHTS RESERVED BY BOARD

The management reserves the right to postpone or cancel the time of exhibits of any class, article or animal on account of bad weather, or for any other good and sufficient reason.

No officer or employee has authority to suspend or change any rule or regulation herein adopted.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS

The 2004 Fair will begin on Tuesday, August 3 and will continue for five days, thru Saturday, August 7. The Gates will open at 8:00 A.M. each day and at that time every officer will be required to be at his post.

All articles and poultry to be exhibited and shown for premiums at the Fair will be on the grounds by 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, and will remain until 12:00 noon on Sunday. All Junior Show and Open Show cattle sheep & swine to be exhibited and shown for premiums at the Fair will be on the grounds by 9:00 A.M. on Thursday and will remain until Sunday.

Animals or articles not ready in time and place will be ruled out of competition.

Each exhibitor at the time of making his or her entry or entries, must purchase one exhibitor's pass which will admit the exhibitor and car to the grounds each day.

No livestock entries will be made by the Secretary after Tuesday, July 27, seven days before the opening of the Fair, and there will be no deviation from this rule, No other entries will be made after July 27, seven days before opening of fair.

All entries must be accompanied by check for entry fees, stall or pen fees and exhibitor's pass.

Entry fees and all stall and pen fees must be paid in full, and no fees will be refunded in case of non-winners.

After entries have been made, no additions or alterations will be made by the Secretary, unless an error has been made, Department Superintendents reserves the right to reject any entry not satisfactory to them.

All livestock health certificates must be deposited with the Fair Secretary's Office at the time entry tags are picked up.

Every animal shown for a premium must be exhibited in the name of the bonafide owner except Get of Sire Class, and the party showing must be able to prove ownership for at least 30 days previous to the day of showing the animal, if called on for proof of ownership, by the Fair Association or the Superintendent of the department where showing.

No animal is to occupy a stall or pen on the grounds of the Fair Association unless competing for a premium, or there as a nurse animal for others which are competing and then the regular stall or pen fee must be paid for such animal.

No animal is to be washed or rinsed anywhere on the fairgrounds except for the designated wash areas.

This rule will be strictly enforced. If this rule is broken, the animal will be barred from exhibition and any premiums earned will be forfeited.

Any actions of destruction or vandalism that are observed of the Knox County Fairs and/or exhibitors property may be dealt with the maximum penalty of the law.

If any exhibitor refuses to parade his livestock on request of the Superintendent in that department, he shall forfeit all rights to any premiums which he may have won or does win during the Fair. Decisions of the judge in the Department shall be final. Exhibitors may be barred from competition for finding fault with the judges' decisions. The interpretation of rules governing any exhibit shall rest entirely with the Fair Association, and its decision shall be final.

REGULATIONS

Every animal or article exhibited on the grounds shall be under the control of the Superintendent of its class; and no article or animal shall be removed from the Fair grounds without permission of the Secretary. Care will be taken to prevent loss or injury to animals or articles on exhibition, but the Association will not be responsible for any loss or damage that may occur. No animal will be allowed to run at large on the grounds. Every animal must be entered for competition in the name of the owner or agent; poultry in the name of the owner; farm products in the name of the producer; manufactured articles in the name of the manufactured or authorized agent; textile articles in the name of the owners. When the entry of an animal or article is made, a card bearing the department, class number, etc., to which it belongs, will be furnished the exhibitor by the Secretary.

RACE TRACK

The Speed Department will be under control of the Superintendent of Speed, who will have charge of the track during the week of the Fair, except by consent of the Superintendent of Speed. The officers and agents of this Association waive all responsibility for injury to persons or animals taking part in races on the track.

CONCESSIONS

All applications for renting refreshment stands, display space, or space for shows, etc., must be made to Knox County Fair, P.O. Box 204, Knoxville, IL 61448, Telephone 289-2714. All exhibitors, concessionaires, and other individuals, who conduct sales, demonstrations, give aways, or literature distribution or solicitation shall be limited to the booth or area assigned and rented by lessee. Ground not for booths, etc., shall be established by the Chairman of Concessions, who will make a lease In duplicate, one copy of the leasor and one copy for the lessee, signed by Lessee upon arrival at fairgrounds, Said rent to be payable as follows: deposit at the time making and delivering of lease, the balance to become due and payable upon arrival. To guarantee space, all leases should be executed prior to April 1, 2004. The Chairman of Concessions is to keep an account of all leases turned over to the Secretary, and make a detailed statement of same in their annual report. A certificate of insurance required from all concessions. Product insurance required from all food concessions.

PRIVILEGES

Any person buying a privilege, and not taking possession of the same themselves, or their agents, by Tuesday noon, of the week of the Fair, forfeits their privilege to the Fair and all money heretofore paid on the same.

CAMPING UNITS

All living quarter trailers or motorhomes parked on the grounds during the week of the Fair will be charged a camping fee to be paid at the Secretary's Office upon arrival and prior to setting up. This fee is in addition to the concession fee. The fee for camping will be $15.00 per day, per unit. Any additional air conditioner unit on each camper will cost $5.00 per unit in addition to the $15.00.

LIABILITY

No claim for injury to any person or property shall ever be asserted nor suit instituted or maintained against the Knox County Agricultural Board & Fair Association its officers or their agents, by or on behalf of any person, firm or corporation or their agents, representatives, servants, or employees having license or privilege to exhibit on the Fairgrounds or occupy any space thereon.

If any damage, loss or injury to person or property shall be proximately caused by reason of neglect or willful act of any persons, firms or corporations or their agents, representatives, servants or employees having license or privilege to exhibit on said Fairgrounds, or occupying space thereon the Knox County Agricultural Board & Fair Association shall in no matter be responsible therefore and in case it is subjected to any expense or liability all persons causing same are liable, therefore shall idemnify the said Knox County Agricultural Board & Fair Association.

Nor will any officers or employees of the Fair be permitted to negotiate assurance or to make any guarantee whatsoever regarding same. Property owners desiring insurance against fire or other protection, must make their own arrangements therefore. No officers or employees has any authority to suspend or change this rule. Illinois Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Health, State Fairgrounds - P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, IL 62794-9281.

All protests concerning entries of any department must be made in writing, accompanied by an affidavit setting forth the grounds for protesting. Protests concerning the exhibition of entries must be filed with the Management at least twenty-four (24) hours before the awards are made, and such protests will be considered before the hour of the showing. All protests against a judge’s decision must be made in writing and accompanied by cash deposit of $50.00. Such deposit will be forfeited if protest is not sustained. The protest must state plainly the Cause of Complaint or Appeal and must be filed with the Grievance Committee within five hours after the award has been made. No Complaint or Appeal based on the statement that the Judge or Judges are incompetent or have overlooked an animal or article will be considered by the Grievance Committee. All questions of dispute or differences not provided for under these rules shall be referred to the Board of Directors, whose decision shall be final. In accordance with state aid regulations, no tie awards can be given for any premium offered.

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER

Electric current for light, heat and power may be arranged for in buildings or for outside exhibits on the grounds and will be charged for as determined by our grounds electrician.

DELIVERY TRUCK

Delivery trucks will be charged $7.50 during the Fair for truck and driver, Deliveries are to be made before noon each day.

No delivery wagon will be allowed to enter the grounds at any time during the Fair unless they have paid the above fee for such privileges, or the regular gate entrance fee. Truck delivery permits are sold at secretary's office. Sale or distribution of beverages will be confined to distributors located in Knox County.

RULES GOVERNING THE GROUNDS

No person will be allowed to ride or drive on the speed ring except horses or vehicles entered in the scheduled events during the week of the Fair.

Illinois Statutes provide a penalty for any person jumping the fence and anyone caught so doing will be duly arrested, taken to the city and fined for such offense.

AWARDS

Awards will be made by the single judge system, unless in the judgement of the Superintendent of the Department more are required.

Judges will report to the Superintendents at the respective departments at The Published Time, on the day fixed for awarding premiums in that department.

No person shall act as judge in any class in which he may be interested as an exhibitor, or otherwise, and if such case should be presented, the Superintendent of Department may remove such interested judge, and substitute another judge temporarily.

The awards of premiums at the Fair shall be confined to entries made in the Premiums List.

No animal or article deemed unworthy shall be allowed to exhibit. The department superintendent will make the decision.

No exhibitor will be allowed more than two premiums under the same class number.

First premium will be paid on one entry when considered worthy by the department and entry fee has been accepted.

Should any doubt arise as to the regularity of entry, or other important matter, which the judge feels incompetent to decide, he shall at once report the same to the Board for decision, which, when made, shall be final.

Any exhibitor showing in the Junior Department or the Open Show will be charged stall fees and entry fees as indicated in the various departments, it being understood that anyone showing in both the Junior Department and the Open show will pay only one stall fee.

The Board reserves the right to pay the premiums pro rata if the net proceeds of the Association are not sufficient to pay the premiums in full.

Temporary buying, borrowing, or hiring animals or articles to strengthen the exhibit, is strictly prohibited. Any exhibitor found guilty of violating this rule forfeits right to any premium.

Articles of Manufacture, Mechanic or Fine Arts and Agricultural products, in order to be entitled to receive premiums, must be owned or have been executed or raised by the exhibitor. The Superintendent will see that this rule is strictly enforced. Manufactured articles may be entered by agents. Persons violating this rule will forfeit the premium and will not be allowed to exhibit for two years.

Superintendents are instructed that if they shall have any good reason to believe that any exhibitor, by false entry or otherwise, attempts to deceive the judges or the public, and obtain a premium by misrepresentation, they shall report the facts to the Board, who may expel such exhibitor for fraud, for two or more years.

The decision of the judges shall be final and no appeal will be considered except in case of protest.

Objections to any person serving as judge may be submitted to the Superintendent in writing, by exhibitors in that class, prior to making any award, giving good and sufficient reasons therefore, and upon which the Superintendent shall have full power to act.

Any exhibitor attempting to interfere with the judges during adjudications will be promptly excluded from competition. All articles must be the work of the exhibitor. Any article may be excluded from the show by the Department Superintendent; if not worthy of winning a premium. Entry fee will be refunded.

Each award, and notice of protest, if any be made, must be written in plain, careful manner, by the Superintendent in ink or indelible pencil, in space opposite entry in Judge's book.

The Judge's books must be returned by the superintendent of each Department to the Secretary, properly certified to by the judges and superintendent as soon as the awards in each are completed.

Each Superintendent shall exercise great care in preserving and returning the Judge's books of the Department, as all checks for premiums are authorized only upon entries contained therein.

Upon all animals or articles the Superintendents of the several departments shall attach the ribbons as awarded by Judges.

The Secretary will not issue an order on Treasurer for premiums on animals or articles removed from exhibition before its close (unless on written authority from the President) and Department Superintendents are instructed to report to the Secretary's office any violations of this rule.

POLICING

The Sheriff and the Illinois State Police shall have charge of the police forces on the grounds, and attend to preserving order and enforcing the rules of the Association, The Marshal and Policemen shall be sworn in conservators of the peace, and it shall be their duty to arrest anyone creating disorder, or violating any of the rules of the Fair, or the laws of the State.

The police will patrol the grounds each morning before opening of the gates.

REGULATIONS GOVERNING DISPENSING OF

FOOD AND DRINK AT COUNTY FAIRS

1. All food including meat, milk, vegetables, etc., shall be obtained from sources complying with applicable State Laws and Regulations, and only food which is clean, wholesome, and free from adulteration and misbranding shall be sold or served. All fruits and vegetables shall be washed before being used. Home-canned foods shall not be used. All stands which freeze dairy products must have a "Certificate of Approval " from the Division of Food and Drugs.

2. Cream filled pastries, custards, cream sauces, meat, poultry, fish and potatoes in the form of salads shall not be permitted. All poultry must be fried or broiled. All cooked potatoes must be served at temperatures of 140 degrees F. or above. All hamburger shall be purchased in patty form only. All hams must be thoroughly cooked before serving.

3. The menu should be planned to avoid left-over food for sale another day. The time between preparation and serving of foods should be kept as short as possible. Prepare perishable foods in small quantities. Left-over prepared sandwiches shall not be sold the following day.

4. Potentially hazardous food shall be stored and displayed at safe temperatures (45 degrees F. or below, or 141 degrees F. or above, whichever is applicable). This includes meat or meat products, milk, egg products and poultry. Mechanical refrigeration shall be provided for keeping foods cold.

5. Individual ice machines will be charged a $25.00 fee. Hand dipping is prohibited, dippers or scoops should be used in dispensing ice.

6. Handling of foods should be minimized by appropriate use of utensils such as scoops, tongs, spoons and forks. 7. All food on display, such as cotton candy, candied apples, candy and other foods shall be adequately covered or be individually packaged to prevent contamination from dust and other elements. Effective shielding must be provided consist- ing of glass or other suitable materials where necessary to prevent contamination of food and food preparation equipment from dust, rain, flies, insects, consumer handling and other elements.

8. Sugar, mustard, ketchup and other condiments should be individually packaged or dispensed from an approved dispenser.

9. There should be no wet storage or packaged foods and beverages except bottled or canned beverages may be stored in water, providing the top of the bottle is not submerged and that a chlorine residual of at least 50 parts per million is maintained.

10. All equipment and facilities must be kept clean and in a sanitary condition.

11. All foods should be prepared in approved kitchens which have the necessary facilities for the proper handling of food. The preparation of food in private homes is discouraged. If, however, this is absolutely necessary, prior approval of the facilities and operation should be maintained from your local inspector.

12. Strict attention should be given to personal hygiene. Persons with boils, cuts, respiratory infections and communicable disease should not be working in the stand at any phase of food handling. Fingernails should be trimmed, hands and arms should be clean and washed before starting work, after using the toilet and at other times as necessary. Clean outer garments shall be worn. The hair must be kept restrained (hair nets and caps are recommended). The use of tobacco in the stand in any form shall not be permitted.

13. Only equipment which is safe, in good repair and cleanable should be used. Food contact surfaces in food preparation areas should be smooth. Counters and shelving should be kept clean and presentable at all times.

14. The use of single service paper plates, cups and plastic or wooden knives, forks and spoons is highly recommended. If, however, multi-use dishes are used, approved dishwashing and sanitizing facilities must be provided and used properly. Approved facilities include a three compartment sink, provided with hot and cold running water with the sink connected to a proper drain. All multi-use utensils following washing and rinsing must be sanitized by immersion in hot water at 170 degrees F. for at least 1/2 minute or immersion in an approved type chemical sanitizing agent, such as chlorine at a strength of at least 50 parts per million for at least one minute. All single service articles shall be properly stored and protected from contamination. Single service cups shall be stored and dispensed through approved type tube dispensers.

15. An adequate supply of safe sanitary quality water for drinking, food preparation, hand washing and handwashing the utensils must be maintained in the establishment if a pressure water supply is not available in the establishment. Axillary heating facilities, capable of producing an ample supply of hot water for such purposes, should be provided. Water storage containers for storage of water used in drinks and food preparation must be of approved type material and have tight fitting covers. There shall be no dipping of water. All water must be dispensed through an approved type dispensing valve.

16. All liquid waste shall be disposed into public sewers or approved private facilities. All garbage shall be kept in tightly covered water, tight washable containers until removed. All rubbish, paper and boxes should be stored in a manner which does not cause an unsightly or unsanitary situation. The grounds immediately surrounding the establishment shall be kept free of food scraps, paper, etc. An adequate number of garbage and rubbish containers should be provided.

17. Hand washing facilities shall be provided in each establishment. Such facilities should consist of water, soap and individual towels. Common towels must not be used.

18. All stands and kitchens should have ceilings and walls so constructed as to minimize the entrance of flies and dust. Ceilings may be of wood, canvas or other materials which will protect the interior of the establishment from the elements.

19. It is recommended that stands have floors of tight wood, asphalt or other cleanable materials which may allow the floor area to be kept dry and clean.

20. Flies, insects and rodents should be effectively controlled. In areas where flies are prevalent, it may be necessary to screen off food preparation areas. Only approved type insecticides should be used. When used, they should be used in a manner which will not contaminate food or food equipment.

21. All food stands should be located at a reasonable distance from livestock barns, animals pens and other potential fly-breeding areas.

REST ROOM FACILITIES

22. Rest room facilities must be maintained in a sanitary condition and flies properly controlled. If it is not a permanent type, adequate control of flies and odors must be maintained by responsible people. Advice on special sanitation problems and exceptions from these recommendations should be obtained from the local food inspector in the area where you are operating.