1. All 4-H members exhibiting must be currently enrolled as a 4-H member in their respective county or reservation
  2. 4-H members enrolled in Blackfeet 4-H or Glacier, Liberty, Pondera or Toole County 4-H programs may only exhibit at one local fair, either Charging Home Stampede or Marias Fair. 4-H members must tell their local Extension office by December 1 of the current 4-H year which fair they will participate in if it is not their local 4-H fair. Blackfeet 4-H Fair is Charging Home Stampede & Glacier/Liberty/Pondera/Toole Fair is Marias Fair.
  3. Payments are due into your local Extension office and fair entries must be completed by the third Thursday in June. No entries will be accepted after the deadline.
  4. All exhibits must be registered and judged according to the Calendar of Events.
  5. All livestock are due in at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday of the fair.
  6. All exhibits shall be judged on the Danish System. The group will be designated by color ribbons as follows:  Excellent - Blue; Good - Red; Fair - White.    If an exhibit merits no ribbon, none will be awarded. Purple ribbons will be awarded only to exceptional entries at the discretion of the judge and have the same point value as a Blue ribbon.  Point value of ribbons:  Purple  5 pts,  Blue  4 pts, Red 3 pts, White  2 pts. 
  7. During animal shows, exhibitors must wear their exhibitor number in the following places, based on the animal they are showing:
    Beef, Sheep, Goat – on the member’s back
    Swine – on the member’s chest
    Horse – on the member’s back and saddle pad
    Rabbit, Cat, Poultry, Pocket Pet – on the member’s chest
    Dog – on the member’s back.
  8. Members may only exhibit in projects (skill level) in which they are enrolled.
  9. One exhibit may be entered in any one class. Exception - “any unlike item” can have up to three exhibits unless specified otherwise.
  10. The maximum number of entries allowed is fifty (50). This includes interviews.
  11. No responsibility shall be placed on, or assumed by, the Marias Fair Board or anyone connected with the 4-H program for loss, damage, or safe return of any article or exhibit, although due care and caution will be exercised to prevent such damage or loss. Neither the Marias Fair Board nor the 4-H program is responsible for personal injury.
  12. If any exhibit needs care, the 4-H member exhibiting it has to be present to take care of it, set it up or show it. The only exception would be if a member has two or more animals that have to be shown at the same time.
  13. In the event an animal becomes sick or unmanageable during the Fair, it will be up to the Livestock and/or Horse Committee and the advisors as to whether or not the animal should be taken home. A veterinarian should be consulted if one is available.
  14. Official judges' decisions are final.
  15. 4-Hers are encouraged to participate in the Marias Fair Open Class exhibits. In order for any exhibit(s) to compete in open class competition, such exhibit(s) shall have been pre-registered in the appropriate open class department by the entry deadline designated in the open class premium book.  4-H members may not enter the same item in 4-H and open class in the same year. For example, a 4-Her may enter an item in 4-H this year and use the same item in open class the following year. 
  16. The majority of 4-H awards will be presented during the fair. Those not presented at the fair will be presented at the local program level.
  17. 4-H Age Departments - All ages as of October 1 of current 4-H year.
    • Pre-Jr. - 8-10 years old,
    • Junior - 11-13 years old,
    • Senior - 14 years old and above.
  18. Rain schedule for Fridays: In the event of unfavorable weather (rain, poor footing or unsafe conditions), the horse show may be moved to the Seewald Barn at the discretion of the Marias Fair Horse Committee.  The 4-H Beef Breeding show may begin at the conclusion of the horse show followed by the Breeds Show and Open Class Show.  Where feasible, classes and/or schedule may be amended or dropped due to size and availability of the barns.  Participants may wear appropriate outer gear without penalty.
  19. Project Interviews are required for all projects. Project Interviews will take place on Wednesday during interview judging.
  20. All indoor exhibits will be judged on Wednesday.
  21. All members who exhibit projects at the fair are required to work a shift in the Food Booth. If a member does not work their scheduled Food Booth shift, they are not eligible to exhibit at the next year’s fair.
  22. Definition: Educational Display – Any item that teaches something about your project.  Examples are posters; a display with items labeled by name and use; a diorama or model or other educational items of your choosing. 
  23. Definition: Project Notebook – A notebook in the format of your choice that describes your project.  May include photos, awards, posters, journaling, etc