The primary purpose of the Malheur County Fair Board is to organize the annual Malheur County Fair. The Fair Board will work to encourage and develop interest in agriculture, industry and home economics for fair exhibits, activities and entertainment. The Fair Board will work to foster youth participation in fair activities through such organizations as 4-H, FFA or similar institutions.
The Fair Board has authority to operate and manage the fairground facilities and may adopt rules and regulations governing the operation of the fair, fairgrounds, facilities, and conduct of visitors.
A. Officers: Officers of the Board shall be a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson. Election of Officers shall be at the November Fair Board meeting. Terms of each office shall commence at the January meeting. Officers shall be nominated by the Board and elected by majority vote of the Board. Officers can serve a maximum of one term of three (3) years.
Chairperson/ President: The Chairperson's responsibilities shall be the main officer of the Board. This person shall proceed over the meetings of the purpose of orderly flow of discussion and shall perform all duties necessary to fulfill this office. If the office of Chairperson becomes vacant, the Vice Chairperson shall succeed as Chair and complete the remainder of the Chairperson's term.
Vice Chairperson/ Vice President: The Vice Chairperson shall fill the absence of the Chairperson, or replace the Chair, if it is vacated during a term of office. if the office of the Vice Chairperson becomes vacant, the Board members will elect a Vice Chairperson at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
A. Monthly Meetings: The Fair Board will hold monthly meetings at the Fair Office located on the Fairgrounds. All Fair Board business will take place at these meetings. The meetings will be open to the public. Monthly meetings are held the third Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
B. Quorum: A quorum will consist of three (3) voting Fair Board Members.
Herdsmanship
Committee for Judges:
Fair Board Manger
Fair Board Member
FFA Representative
4-H Representative
Stall Assignments
Building Maintenance
Ground Maintenance
R.V. and Vehicle Parking
Ribbons
Printing of Fair Book
Fair Admission and Parking passes
Main Sound System
Entertainment
Vendors
Trash Collection
Ticket Sales
Security
Contests
Rodeo
Carnival
Public Safety Area
All off season operations of the fairgrounds
The general supervision of the grounds and entire exhibition, the police regulations and entrance gates are vested in the Malheur County Fair Board. The Fair Association reserves to its Board of Directors the final and absolute right to interpret these rules and regulations and arbitrarily settle and determine all matters, questions and differences in regard thereto, and to add to and amend these rules as they deem advisable.
No Entry Clerk shall, under any circumstances, allow the entry books of the association to go from his possession, or to be inspected by anyone except the officers or appointees of the association, nor shall any entry be made known by the clerk until the entries are closed and the entry books placed at the hands of the Superintendent of the proper department. Any exhibitor found examining the entry books will forfeit all premiums or money won.
Exhibitors shipped to the Fair should be addressed in the care of the Malheur County Fair Board, 795 N.W. 9th St., Ontario, OR 97914. They must be prepaid as the association will not be liable for express or freight charges. In every instance, exhibits must be brought at the risk of the exhibitor or owner.
Open class livestock exhibits must have been owned by the exhibitors at least two weeks prior to the Fair and land products must have been grown or produced by the exhibitor.
All livestock entries must be entered for competition in the name of the bona fide owner. Animal's registration number must be entered on the entry card. Persons trying to deceive the committee in regard to ownership of animals, or who shall purchase or borrow and then exhibit them as their own raising shall forfeit all claims to premiums. Registration ear tags must match registration papers and will be checked by the Superintendent.
The Association will take reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of exhibits sent to the exhibition, but the owners themselves must take the risk of exhibiting them. Should any exhibit or portion thereof be injured, burned, lost, or stolen, the association will give assistance towards recovery of the same but will not be liable to make payment for the value thereof.
Exhibitors of animals, machinery in motion and other exhibits liable to occasional accidents, injury or damage to persons coming in contact with them shall guard their exhibits and protect the public coming in contact therewith. Every exhibitor, by exhibiting during the Fair, agrees that he will indemnify the Association from and against any claim or demand, cost, charges and expenses which the Association may incur, suffer to be put to by reason of any accident or any person being injured or suffering damage through or by reason of such exhibit not being properly guarded or the public not being protected therefrom. That he will, upon demand, reimburse the Fair Association for any such sums it may have been compelled to expend by reason of such claims, expenses or charges.
If any exhibit is entered in the wrong class, an effort to correct the mistake will be made, providing it is discovered before the awards are made. Where an error has been made by clerks or the judges, the same shall be settled by the Malheur County Fair Board upon satisfactory proof that such error was made.
In all cases the right is reserved to reject or accept conditionally, any entry or application at any time at the discretion of the Board.
Exhibits must not removed before Sunday, August 4, 2024
At the close of Fair the exhibitors must remove the exhibit as early as possible. Animal exhibitors must remove all bedding from the pens or stall, used by them, and place the bedding in areas designated by Fair management. Any article left in the building or on the grounds after the close of the exhibition will be at the risk of the owner, and will become property of the Fair after thirty days.
All entries must be entered and released in accordance with the rules in their respective divisions. Check Schedule of Events for entry and release time for all exhibits.
Fair officially opens at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Ticket gates open at 12 pm Tuesday, July 30, 2024 and at 8 a.m. daily Wednesday, July 31, 2024 through Saturday August 3, 2024. Commercial Building opens at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July, 2024 and 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024 through Saturday, August 3, 2024. Red Barn opens 4-10 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2024 and 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 31, 2024 through Friday, August 2, 2024, and Saturday, August 3, 2024, 9 a.m.-10 p.m.
No bikes, skateboards, scooters, or motorcycles allowed around on the grounds. Horses are to be kept in Grandstand area only. No dogs. No domestic pets allowed on Fairgrounds other than dog show exhibitors.
Cars parked in unauthorized areas and fire lanes will be towed away at the owner's expense.
No illegal drugs will be allowed on the Fairgrounds.
All alcoholic beverages on the grounds are to be in designated areas. Minors in possession will be charge on the Fairgrounds by Ontario City Police. In addition, any exhibitor who is a minor found in possession of or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or caught vandalizing will be subject to immediate expulsion from the fair. If said exhibitor is a 4-H or FFA member who will be selling an animal at the market sale, no premium money will be awarded nor the sale of the animal allowed.
All gates will be closed and locked at midnight. Exhibitors extremely late to their tents or campers after curfew without prior approval from the adult responsible and security will be reported to the grievance committee. All campers will be in their camping area and quiet by midnight.
All premiums not picked up from the Fair Office will be forfeited and returned to the Fair.
All animals to be placed in competition at the Malheur County Fair must be pre-registered to insure stall space. Livestock entry forms are available in the book and at the Fair Office.
Crossover exhibits from 4-H and/or FFA to Open Class will not be allowed.
It is understood that the act of entering an exhibit or contest at the Malheur County Fair is asking the Fair Management to secure a qualified judge to place a judgement on the exhibit or performance. It is therefore courteous to gracefully accept the decision of the judge, realizing that it may be in conflict with your set of standards. Every reasonable effort will be made to secure highly qualified and conscientious judges. If you feel you are not willing to accept this judgement, please write "exhibit only" on your entry the decision of the judge is final. Any concerns must be directed to the Superintendent of the Division.
Parking Information
Fire traffic lanes must be maintained throughout the grounds; therefore the Main Gate to the Fairgrounds will be closed to all vehicles Tuesday after 2 p.m. through Saturday of the Fair week. This is also a safety measure for foot traffic. There are two other entrances to the grounds. The South Gate gives access to the south half of the parking lot west of the livestock barns and is to be used for admittance of livestock exhibitors only. The West Gate, off Park Avenue, gives access to the Horse Barns. Daily deliveries inside Fairgrounds must be made before 9 am. Deliveries must enter through the West gate only.
Livestock Exhibitors
Use South Gate. Obtain "Fair Parking Pass" from Fair office. No public parking in this area. The area west of the livestock barns is for livestock exhibitors only. Trucks and other vehicles are to be parked in the area next to the south/west fence.
Overnight Camping
For livestock and horse exhibitors only. All campers are required to purchase a camping permit. Tent camping is $15 per week. Campers or motorhomes without power is $30 per week. Campers or motorhomes with electricity is $60 per week. Separate camping areas will be established for livestock and horse exhibitors.
Each camper will register at the Fair Office and turn in written parental permission, the name of the adult in charge of the tent or camper and list of the occupants, and display a registration card of each occupant in a visible place designated by the Fair Board.
One adult shall be responsible for each tent or camper. All campers are required to register and display a registration card. All campers will be in their camping area and quiet by midnight. The Fair Board appreciates the cooperation of everyone in keeping the grounds safe and orderly. If there are campers that cannot afford the camping fees, please let the fair office know and arrangements will be made.
Payment of Awards
Fabric ribbons will be given (at time of judging) in some Fair divisions. Other divisions will have placing stickers attached to the entry tags and fabric ribbons will be given with premium money.
In Open Class Departments
Blue: First Place
Red: Second Place
White: Third Place
Special awards are listed in each division.
Exhibitors are limited to one entry per section for judging:
Judges will determine entry quality.
4-H, FFA and Open Departments included
All awards for which cash prizes are awarded will be paid by cash or check.
4-H premiums will be available at the 4-H office. FFA premiums will be handed out by the FFA Advisors. Open class premiums can be obtained on Sunday, August 4, 2024, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the Red Barn.
Release time for exhibits: 8 am, Sunday, August 4
All judges are approved by the Fair Board. No person shall act as a judge, who has entries in the department in which he is to be judged, either as owner, agent or representative.
Should any doubt arise as to the irregularity of an entry or other important matters upon which the judge feels incompetent to decide, it shall be at once reported to the Fair Office and investigated. Any protest or complaints against any article or animal being exhibited or protesting the decision of the judges in awarding the prizes, must be filed with the Fair Board Secretary before the close of the Fair.
The Malheur County Fair is an open show and exhibitors out of the county and state are welcome to enter in all open classes. If funds are available, payments of premiums will be made in full amounts as listed; however, the Fair Board reserves the right to prorate premium money in the event there are insufficient funds to pay the full premium awarded by the judges.
For further information, you may write to the Malheur County Fair Board, 795 NW 9th St., Ontario OR 97914, or call (541) 889-3431, or email fair@malheurco.org
Malheur County Fair Board Environmental Policy
The Malheur County Fair Board will maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations. The Policy of the Fair Board is to adhere to the Oregon State Department of Agriculture regulations pertaining to agriculture and environmental concerns.
To prevent the transmission of enteric pathogens and other transmittable diseases including E. coli, the Malheur County Fair Board will ask fair goers not to touch the pens and to wash their hands immediately upon leaving the barns.
Food and beverage will be discouraged in the barns. The Fair board will have hand washing stations near the barns. There will be signs reminding fair goers to wash their hands and not eat food in the barn.
Items Prohibited on Fairgrounds
The following items are prohibited on the property owned or controlled ("Fairgrounds") by the Malheur Country Fair Board, unless specifically authorized by the Board:
a. Bicycles, skateboards, roller blades, scooters: unlocked heelies;
b. Unauthorized vehicles;
c. Unauthorized animals, reptiles, insects, arachnids, and other pets;
d. Weapons;
e. Fireworks, explosives or explosive devices, and inflammables;
f. Alcohol or alcoholic beverages;
g. Attire, costume, clothing or accessories in which, based on the training and experience of a law enforcement officer or the Director, can be articulated as being affiliated with an established criminal gang;
h. Controlled substances;
i. Any other object which in the opinion of the Fair Board Director or his/her designee may affect the safety and well-being of persons attending events at the fairgrounds.