General Livestock Rules and Barn Policies101. Livestock and Horse and Pony entries will close June 21, 2024. No entry fees. Enter online at
FairEntry.com.
No entries will be accepted after the deadline. 102. All Livestock Superintendents, Vo-Ag and Extension personnel are requested to attend a meeting at the Fairground Office in June. Important matters pertaining to the judging schedule, assignment of stall space, etc. will be discussed and finalized at this time.
103. Livestock will be received on the Fairgrounds from Friday, July 21 until noon Sunday, July 23. (Also see specie specific rules). In case of emergency to meet this rule, call the fair office 814-623-9011. The Fair reserves the right to close entries when available space is filled.
104. Livestock may be removed after 2:00 p.m. Saturday at which time the barns will be closed to visitors. Animals sold in the Junior Livestock Sale are excluded from this rule. All animals, in so far as possible, will be removed and loaded from the West (upper) ends of the barn. No trucks or trailers are to be loaded from the East (lower) ends of the barns.
105. Every animal must be entered for competition in the name of the owner as listed on registration papers. Joint ownership considered to be one owner.
106. Exhibitor Defined: An exhibitor must be the owner or member of partnership or family owning the animal. In case a herd or flock is registered in the names of different members of the family and where the herd or flock is one unit, all entries will considered as a single exhibitor. 4-H and FFA members are excluded from this rule if they enter open class in their own name.
107. No exhibitor may enter more than two (2) animals in any class.
108. Each exhibitor is responsible for the care of their own animals
109. Each animal or pen of animals must be identified by breed and age on cards displayed to be easily seen by viewers.
110. An exhibitor of livestock is entitled to 1 weekly ticket for each six (6) animals entered.
Exhibitors not old enough to drive will receive a wrist band and 1 car and passenger pass per family. Exhibitors who drive will only receive a wrist band.Each additional exhibitor's pass will be $23.00 to be sold only for person assisting the exhibitor with animals. No extra livestock helper passes will be sold after noon on Monday. 111. Livestock trucks and trailers CANNOT park for the week or overnight in the livestock parking area. A designated area will be marked for trucks/trailers on the East side of grounds. Horse exhibitors may arrange for one or two truck/trailers for tack.
112. Animals must be properly clipped, washed and stalls maintained daily. Failure to provide for proper care and display of animals my result in a loss of premiums to the exhibitor and/or dismissal from the Fairgrounds.
113. Bedding for the animals may be straw, sawdust, shavings, or chips. No bark or shredded newspaper may be used.
114. NO COOKING OR REFRIGERATORS ARE ALLOWED IN THE BARNS, INCLUDING CROCKPOTS!115. Electric cords used in the barns must be 12AWG.
116. Grooming: Use only grooming products that are approved for use on meat animals when fitting any animal for show. Any animal showing evidence of unethical fitting practices such as tampering with the natural fleshing and muscle development (including but NOT limited to drenching and pumping fluids) will be barred from the show and sent home. The exhibitor will also be barred from exhibiting at the fair for one year. In the event of an animal illness, the exhibitor should notify and consult the species' superintendent. 117. Show Ring Ethics - Exhibitors of animals at the Bedford County Fair shall at all times deport themselves with honesty and good sportsmanship. Their conduct in this competitive environment shall always reflect the highest standards of honor and dignity to promote the advancement of agricultural education. This code applies to junior as well as open class exhibitors who compete in structured classes of competition. This code applies to all livestock offered in any event at the Fair.
All youth leaders working with junior exhibitors are under an affirmative responsibility to do more than avoid improper conduct or questionable acts. Their moral values must be so certain and positive that those younger and more pliable will be influenced by their fine example. Owners, exhibitors, fitters, trainers and absolutely responsible persons who violate this code of ethics will forfeit premiums, awards and auction proceeds and may be prohibited from future Fairs. Exhibitors who violate this code of ethics demean the integrity of all livestock exhibitors and should be prohibited from competition at all livestock shows in the United States and Canada.
The following is a list of GUIDELINES for all exhibitors and all livestock in competitive events:
1) All exhibitors must present, upon request of fair and livestock show officials, proof of ownership,
length of ownership, and age of all animals entered. Misrepresentation of ownership, age, or any facts
relating thereto is prohibited.
2) Owners, exhibitors, fitters, trainers, or absolutely responsible persons shall provide animal health
certificates from licensed veterinarians upon request by fair or livestock show officials.
3) Junior exhibitors are expected to care for and groom their animals while at fairs or livestock shows.
4) Animals shall be presented to show events where they will enter the food chain free of violative
drug residues. The act of entering an animal in a livestock show is the giving of consent by the
owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer and/or absolutely responsible person for show management to obtain
any specimens of urine, saliva, blood, or other substances from the animal to be used in testing.
Animals not entered in an event which culminates with the animal entering the food chain shall not be
administered drugs other than in accordance with applicable federal, state and provincial statutes,
regulations and rules. Livestock shall not be exhibited if the drugs administered in accordance with
federal, state and provincial statutes, regulations and rules affect the animal’s performance or
appearance at the event.
If the laboratory report on the analysis of saliva, urine, blood, or other sample taken from livestock
indicates the presence of forbidden drugs or medication, this shall be prima facie evidence such
substance has been administered to the animal either internally or externally. It is presumed that the
sample of urine, saliva, blood, or other substance tested by the laboratory, to which it is sent, is the
one taken from the animal in question, its integrity is preserved and all procedures of said collection
and preservation, transfer to the laboratory and analysis of the sample are correct and accurate and
the report received from the laboratory pertains to the sample taken from the animal in question and
correctly reflects the condition of the animal at the time the sample was taken, with the burden on the
owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or absolutely responsible person to prove otherwise.
At any time after an animal arrives on the fair or livestock show premises, all treatments involving the
use of drugs and/or medications for the sole purpose of protecting the health of the animal shall be
administered by a licensed veterinarian.
5) Any surgical procedure or injection of any foreign substance or drug or the external application of
any substance (irritant, counterirritant, or similar substance) which could affect the animal’s
performance or alter its natural contour, confirmation, or appearance, except external applications of
substances to the hoofs or horns of animals which affect appearance only and except for surgical
procedures performed by a duly licensed veterinarian for the sole purpose of protecting the health of
the animal, is prohibited.
6) The use of showing and/or handling practices or devices such as striking animals to cause swelling,
using electrical contrivance, or other similar practices are not acceptable and are prohibited.
7) Direct criticism or interference with the judge, fair or livestock show management, other exhibitors,
breed representatives, or show officials before, during, or after the competitive event is prohibited. In
the furtherance of their official duty, all judges, fair and livestock show management, or other show
officials shall be treated with courtesy, cooperation and respect and no person shall direct abusive or
threatening conduct toward them.
8) No owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or absolutely responsible person shall conspire with another
person or persons to intentionally violate this code of ethics or knowingly contribute or cooperate
with another person or persons either by affirmative action or inaction to violate this code of ethics.
Violation of this rule shall subject such individual to disciplinary action.
9) The application of this code of ethics provides for absolute responsibility for an animal’s condition
by an owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or participant whether or not he or she was actually
instrumental in or had actual knowledge of the treatment of the animal in contravention of this code
of ethics.
10) The act of entering an animal is the giving of consent by the owner, exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or
absolutely responsible person to have disciplinary action taken by the fair or livestock show for
violation of this Code of Show Ring Ethics and any other rules of competition of the fair or livestock
show without recourse against the fair or livestock show. The act of entering an animal is the giving of
consent that any proceedings or disciplinary action taken by the fair or livestock show may be
published with the name of the violator or violators in any publication of the International Association
of Fairs and Expositions, including Fairs and Expos and any special notices to members.
11) The act of entering of an animal in a fair or livestock show is the giving of verification by the owner,
exhibitor, fitter, trainer, or absolutely responsible person that he or she has read the IAFE Code of
Show Ring Ethics and understands the consequences of and penalties provided for actions prohibited
by the code. It is further a consent that any action which contravenes these rules and is also in
violation of federal, state, or provincial statutes, regulations, or rules may be released to appropriate
law enforcement authorities with jurisdiction over such infractions.
Any and all animals entered and shown at the Bedford Co Fair are the sole responsibility of the exhibitor. If an animal tests positive for a non-approved substance, i.e. performance enhancing or non-approved for food producing animals, the exhibitor will be held accountable no matter the circumstances, date of purchase, or date of taking possession of the animal. The top 3 market animals will immediately be taken to the designated drug testing area for a sample once the grand drive has ended. The official veterinarian will release the exhibitor and animal once testing is deemed complete.
The Bedford County Fair and it's officers, reserve the right to randomly drug test any livestock exhibited at the Bedford County Fair. Non-approved pharmaceuticals are 100% prohibited! This includes substances not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for slaughter animals that may be destined for human consumption. This includes the use of all products that are not FDA approved including but not limited to any unapproved growth stimulant, beta-agonists, diuretics, or other unapproved medication meant for human usage that are intended for performance enhancing purposes. All utilized pharmaceuticals should be in compliance with Pennsylvania standards, USDA, and/or USDA/Food Safety/safety standards.
If any substance found in the obtained sample is non-approved, then the individual exhibitor will be subject to the following penalties:
(A) Disqualified from exhibiting at the Bedford County Fair for one year.
(B) Any & all money will be forfeited.
(C) All awards (banners, buckles, etc.) must be returned to the Department Committee immediately regardless of situation or will be billed at the Committee's discretion.
(D) Will be responsible to pay any and all fees for the blood test results.