2024 Rules

OFFICIAL RULES

2024 Show Season

These rules and guidelines are aimed at standardizing junior livestock shows in Utah. Standardization will help provide the best possible educational experience for the young people in the state of Utah who have 4-H or FFA livestock projects. The Utah Junior Livestock Show Association is given this responsibility by the Utah Administrative Rule R65-8 and Utah Code Section 4-2-103(1)(i), 103(1)(m) through the Utah Department of Agriculture and the Utah Legislature. These rules are to be in effect at any show receiving funds through the Association.  Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information as it is distributed or published by member shows. However, exhibitors are cautioned that the current rules and regulations of the Utah Junior Livestock Show Association, as interpreted by the officers of the Association, will take precedence over such listings due to the possibility of typographical error or inadvertent omission.

· A Total Experience:

Exhibitors are encouraged to participate in the complete educational opportunity that junior livestock shows provide, such as the rate of gain, carcass, fitting and showing, record book, and livestock judging contests along with the judging of market and breeding animals. It is the purpose of these projects to develop life skills, animal husbandry and marketing skills among the participants.

· Tagging:

All market animals must be tagged with standardized tags to be eligible to show at any Utah Junior Livestock Association supported show. Exhibitors will be verified as 4-H and FFA members in good standing by their county office or FFA advisor. Contact your county extension staff, FFA advisor, or show director for specifics on tagging animals and being verified within your county. See tagging policy, B. Market Animal Rules: 2. Tagging

A. GENERAL RULES

1. Age: -- Utah 4-H Age Divisions are based on a child’s school grade. The Utah 4-H year will begin on September 1.

· Junior 4-H Members 3rd* through 5th Grade

· Intermediate 4-H Members 6th through 8th Grade

· Senior 4-H Members 9th through 12th Grade 

*Youth MUST be age 8 AND in 3rd grade to participate in large animal projects. Youth turning 8 AND in 3rd grade may participate after their 8th birthday during the 4-H year. Please note that youth must turn 8 by the ownership deadline (100 days prior to the show for cattle, 60 days prior to the show for sheep, goats, and hogs) to participate in the livestock program.

2. Group Affiliation -- An exhibitor may enter a given show only as a 4-H or FFA member, but not both. Exhibitors must declare one or the other at time of entry.

3. Ownership of animals - The exhibitor will own, possess, feed, and care for his/her project animal(s) for not less than 100 consecutive days for market beef and 60 consecutive days for market swine, market sheep and market goats immediately prior to the opening day of the show in which they intend to participate.  No interruption of ownership or possession can occur. Overall grand and reserve champion market animals in each species will be tattooed in the left ear with a CH for champion. Animals with this tattoo are not eligible to enter and show in any show sanctioned by the Utah Junior Livestock Association.

4. Fitting on show grounds --      Parents, guardians, siblings, club leaders, extension/4-H agents and FFA advisors may assist      and are encouraged to assist the younger exhibitors. However, each      exhibitor must be working with the project animal and be in attendance      with that animal during the entire fitting process.

5. Code of Ethics(rules 5a through 5h) – The following practices or procedures are unacceptable in the care, fitting, preparation and showing of all classes of livestock. Any violation of association rules or specific rules as designated by individual fairs and livestock shows may result in forfeiture of premiums and awards, disqualification, and may result in probationary status and/or loss of eligibility for future participation in Association member shows. Possible civil penalties may be imposed by the proper authorities based on evidence provided by the livestock show of exhibitors in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic act/or the animal mistreatment, neglect, and abandonment laws that apply on the local, state, and national levels. Other member shows will be notified of any action taken by show management, which may affect the eligibility of the individual, group, or sponsoring organization for participation at other shows. The decision of the livestock show management will be final.

a.The use of any       drug, tranquilizer, sedative, or depressant, which alters the psychological       or physiological state of the animal, is illegal. Exceptions to this rule       would be licensed, certified veterinarians, treatment for a recognized       disease or injury, or recommendation for tranquilizing breeding animals       in heat that might compromise the safety of others. The drugs must be       approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in meat producing       animals. All exhibitors will advise show management of any drug and/or       medication administered to an animal that might be detected at the time       of showing or at meat inspection. The name of the drug, its purpose, the       person who administered the drug, time, and date of administration will       be presented to show management prior to the showing and sale of the       animals. Failure to report this information will result in severe penalties       and/or disqualification. Any use of drugs or substances not approved by       the Food and Drug Administration       is strictly prohibited. All animals entered in livestock competition will       be subject to testing for foreign substances that exceed acceptable       levels established by the FDA,       FSIS, USDA, or EPA.       This includes any non-labeled feed additives or substances not       approved for that species. During the livestock event, in the case of an animal       requiring treatment, all medication shall be administered by a licensed       veterinarian and the livestock show officials shall be notified. Use of       an illegal drug is considered a premeditated act and any information       obtained in the practice of illegal alteration of any animal will be       turned over to the proper authorities for possible criminal prosecution.

b. Surgery, injection,       or insertion of foreign material under the skin and/or into the flesh of       animal to change the natural contour, conformation, or appearance of an       animal's body is illegal. This includes vegetable oil, silicon, or any       other substance used to alter an animal’s shape. Acceptable practices of       physical preparations, which are allowed, include: clipping of hair,       trimming of hooves, dehorning, or removal of ancillary teats.

c. Each exhibitor       has absolute responsibility for the care and condition of the animal(s)       they enter and bring to the show.

d. The use of       inhumane fitting, showing, and handling practices or devices shall not be       tolerated. For example: breaking of tails, striking of the animal to       cause swelling or for bracing purposes, use of an electrical contrivance,       etc. is not acceptable.

e. Direct criticism       or interference with the judge, show management, other exhibitors, breed       representatives, or show officials before, during, or after the       competitive event is prohibited.

f. Market grand and reserve champion animals that pass through a sale, may be drug tested, at the discretion of the show.

g. At the time an animal is sold at auction at the livestock show, the exhibitors shall be held directly responsible for animals that are rejected at the processing center for any reason. The seller may be liable to the buyer for an amount equal to three times the purchase price and may also be liable for attorney's fees and civil penalties. Show management may share acceptable intelligence and evidence information with FDA or USDA. If, for any reason, the FDA or USDA inspectors must remove any part of a meat animal carcass, the market price will be discounted.

h. Show management reserves the right to require animal health certificates. Health inspection and diagnostic tests may be made before or after animals are on the livestock show premises for exhibitor and animal safety, or to inaugurate disease control procedures which may become necessary in emergencies as determined by animal health officials.

6. Code of Conduct - All 4-H and FFA members, family members, and associates will exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. Every exhibitor, family member and associate of exhibitor, is required to follow the Utah 4-H and Utah FFA Code of Conduct at any Utah Junior Livestock Association sponsored event. Here are a few points from the Code of Conduct that we want to remind you:

·         Have positive character and behavior

·         Follow guidelines and rules

·         Be responsive to reasonable requests of show management and event staff

·         Be respectful of the safety of others

·         Dress appropriately, use appropriate language, and respect the rights of others

·         Be respectful of property

·         Do not behave recklessly, assault, threaten, or harm another person

Be aware that abuse of animals or people of any kind by any member or associate will be cause for disqualification of the 4-H or FFA exhibitor. If any participant, volunteer, or associate violates the Code of Conduct or jeopardizes the safe environment of any Utah Junior Livestock Association sponsored activity or event, that individual will be subject to suspension from further Utah Junior Livestock Association activities. A suspension is appropriate if there are multiple written statements regarding the aforementioned behaviors, and if measures have been taken to correct the behavior with no change. Each situation is evaluated individually and will be discussed with county 4-H and FFA faculty and staff as appropriate to determine when the suspension can or will be lifted.

7. Dress Code –4-H - A long or short sleeve shirt, which fastens down the front with a collar, is mandatory. Shirts must be solid white in color and need not be Western style. Black or blue pants are to be worn. 4-H patch with the 4-H emblem must be worn on the upper left sleeve. Patches must be visible during the event. No patch or patch not visible is not considered Official 4-H Dress. Acceptable patches include any previously manufactured USU patch or other 4-H patches available for purchase through the 4-H mall that includes a big clover. These are available online at https://shop4-h.org. Embroidered or screen printed 4-H clover emblem are acceptable. Questions regarding official 4-H dress will be deferred to the Utah 4-H Website or the Utah 4-H representative in attendance of the show.

FFA - Either a white shirt, tie and FFA jacket, or a white collared shirt with the FFA emblem and tie. 

The following will not be allowed: T-shirts, tank tops, tube tops, sleeveless shirts and vests.

Exhibitors who fail to abide by dress standards will forfeit prize money.

8. Sales Fee     - A sales fee not to      exceed 5% will be withheld from sales checks by all state-assisted shows. Any purchaser(s) of      animals from a      Junior Livestock Show Auction must pay the Show the full purchase price of sale regardless of      buy-back.

9. Show Eligibility - Animals are eligible for any show for which      they meet ownership and show requirements. 

10. Change of Ownership - Once an animal has gone through any stockshow      sale, regardless of buyback or no-sale, it is no longer eligible to enter      a state assisted show.

11. Lamb Docking Rule – Scientific research indicates that the      incidence of rectal prolapsed is reduced when the tail is docked in a      non-extreme manner. The recommended      method is to dock at the distal end on the caudal fold (3rd     caudal vertebra). Complete tail      removal (extreme docking) is not an accepted sheep production practice and      is discouraged for all Utah Junior Livestock sheep projects. Market lambs or      breeding sheep showing any signs of contagious disease or current or      recent signs of prolapse, or with an open sore on the dock (rosebud), will      be sifted from Utah Junior Livestock Shows at the discretion of the state      show vet at the time of weigh in and their determination is final.

B. MARKET ANIMAL RULES:

1. Drug Withdrawal -- It is unethical, and in most cases even      unlawful to administer drugs to livestock within 20 to 30 days of      slaughter. Animals too unmanageable to show should be withdrawn from their      class rather than be tranquilized. The local show committee and the show      veterinarian will monitor this situation. By federal regulations, random      testing will occur at slaughter, and animals will be condemned which have      been given any injection or oral dosages of tranquilizers, pain killers,      antibiotics, diuretics, steroids, or other foreign substances during      withdrawal periods before slaughter. All sales money will be withheld in      such cases. Bloat medicine and other medications with no withdrawal requirements      may be permissible. Exhibitors need to be aware of potential health      hazards to consumers who eat animals that have received any      above-mentioned substances. Please do not put someone's life in jeopardy.

2. Tagging – Tagging policy and deadlines found at https://utahjuniorlivestock.com/junior-livestock-tags. Should a tag be lost or pulled out of an animal’s ear, the exhibitor will advise the county extension staff, FFA advisor, or show director immediately so that the tag can be replaced.

3. Entry Forms & Deadlines – Exhibitors must check with each livestock show for entry deadline for that specific show. Exhibitors are responsible for mailing their own entry form. Entries postmarked by that date will be accepted. Exhibitors must declare which animals are to be shown and submit an entry form and entry fees to the appropriate shows, including State Association ear tag numbers. The tag number and alternate tag number must be specified on the exhibitor entry form to be eligible. Entries may not exceed the limits for each show (see form 4) including one alternate animal per species entered. Forms must be signed by a proper Extension/4-H agent or FFA advisor to verify exhibitors and animals are a legitimate entry for the show they are entering. Extension/4-H agents or FFA advisors should only sign forms for those youth enrolled in their programs. The Extension/4-H agent or FFA advisor and parents will verify eligibility for group and family feeding programs.

Entry forms for fitting and showmanship classes must also be submitted by the entry deadline of the show and need to indicate class to be entered (species) and age of exhibitor.

Entry fees will not be withheld from sales checks. Entry fees are to be sent along with all entry forms.

4. Poultry - In keeping with the desire to help eliminate disease problems, certain counties will not be eligible to receive turkey poultry from the Moroni hatchery. Exhibitors may, however, have turkey projects along with family commercial operations.  An exhibitor will own, feed and care for his/her project turkeys for not less than 20 weeks prior to the turkey show. Birds must not be more than 24 weeks of age at the time of the show.

C. BREEDING ANIMALS:

Exhibitors are encouraged to expand their scope of livestock project experience to include breeding livestock projects.

D. RULE ENFORCEMENT:

The local show has the responsibility to enforce the rules and regulations at their show. Any further action needs to be submitted in writing to the Utah State Junior Livestock Shows Association Board. Shows that do not comply with and enforce the rules adopted may lose Association funding. If immediate action is needed, the board of the Utah State Junior Livestock Shows Association is empowered to make the ruling decision. The State Veterinarian has the final ruling on lamb tail docking and any health issues.

UTAH JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW ASSOCIATION RULES for member show organizers

RULES:

All member shows must print or publish the Utah Junior Livestock Show Association Official Rules in effect for that year and any conflicting local show rules must be eliminated. Once individual shows publish rules for that given year, every effort should be made to follow and uphold what was published. All shows must be represented at the annual meeting, or a $100.00 penalty is to be paid by the show to the Utah Junior Livestock Show Association. Any show that has not turned in their annual show report form by the annual meeting is required to pay a $100.00 penalty to the Utah Junior Livestock Show Association.

NEW SHOW ELIGIBILITY:

Any established show that makes an application for funding from the Utah State Junior Livestock Shows Association must provide the required numbers from their previous year's show. New shows must exist one year before receiving funding in order to establish base line numbers.