2020 Scotts Bluff County Fair
Frequently Asked Questions...with answers!!
This is tailored for Livestock! Be looking for a Static Preview Shortly!!
Covid-19 Fair Modifications
- Social Distancing of 6ft or a face covering are required. As you are working around the pens, wash racks, and ring, please be mindful of keeping 6 ft of distance between yourself and those from non-family units.
- Everyone is welcome to watch the shows. Bleachers will be marked with 6ft to help you distance.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be provided around the fairgrounds, please use them!
- High touch surfaces will be sanitized frequently.
- If you don't feel well and have symptoms associated with COVID-19, please stay home.
- Those who don't feel comfortable or are in a high risk group, please consider staying home.
Further questions can be answered
Or through the Remind 101 system. To receive and send messages to show staff sign up for the SBC Livestock remind. Text @sbc4hani to 81010 or text 3086312904 and we will add you.
Fair Book and Other information
Fair schedule: https://go.unl.edu/sbcschedule
I have a 4-H question during fair week, where do I go?
During Fair week all of our Extension staff are at the fair! We have an onsite 4-H Office (The HUT) located on the south side of the Livestock Pavilion. Look for the 4-H Clover. We are also at all the shows. You can also contact us through the Remind 101 system. Text @sbc4hani to 81010.
Where do I stall my animals?
Market Animals are stalled by species and by clubs. Independent members are placed by family last name. A STALL MAP is posted in the center of the livestock barn and can be found on the Scotts Bluff Co Fair 4-H website: http://go.unl.edu/sbcfair.
Marking and hanging equipment on pens?
NO TAPE or Wire will be allowed on the pens. Please use zip ties or cord to tie things. Thank you!
What do I use for bedding?
Beef can use wood chips and the other animals use wood shavings. You are responsible for providing your own bedding the entire week of fair, however many sponsors have provided extra bedding. The first bag will be given out at the FFA Barn Sunday, July 26th from 3-4pm. Bring your ticket from your packet!
How do I weigh my animal?
Check the schedule below for weigh in times. There is also club time slots for the swine weigh in that can be found below. Bring your animal to the scale along with your completed drug affidavit/waiver. Drug affidavits/waivers must be turned in before your animal is weighed. Please fill out one form per child. All of that child's animals can be listed on one form. This form is used for all market animals! Affidavits can be found here: http://go.unl.edu/sbcfair
Where do I keep my tack and feed?
There is limited space for tack in the Large Animal Barn. It is recommended that each club have a trailer on the fairgrounds to store extra tack and feed or store in the assigned tack pens.
Can I leave my trailer on the fairgrounds all week?
With the limited amount of parking on the fairgrounds, especially for the night events, we are encouraging families to take extra trailers home or park them in the Sugar Factory parking north of the highway. If you are using your trailer as a club tack trailer, please park it on the north side of the electric poles on the north side of the fairgrounds. Also, limited space is available for beef pens. Pens are only allowed along the north fence between the Quonset and trees. With a little planning our parking issues will be alleviated.
Do I need to clean my animal’s pen every day?
Yes, you need to clean your animals pens and alley ways as they get dirty! Clubs will be judged on herdsmanship ( how clean are your animals and area) every day. We want to make a good impression on the public and it is the best thing for your animal. You will also be responsible for dumping your trash can. All trash sacks go in the orange corral on the west side of the Livestock Barn. NO TRASH IN THE SHAVING DUMPSTER!
Where are the cards that go on the front of my stall?
Stall cards can be found in your family’s exhibitor packet. Feel free to add additional information like your animal’s name, breed etc.
Where do I get the numbers that go on my back?
Back tags are in your family’s exhibitor packet with safety pins. If you lose your number during the week, come to the 4-H Office and we will make you a new one.
Weigh in info:
- Reweighs are NOT allowed.
- Make sure animals are clean when you come to weigh ins (not show clean, just not covered in mud
- Animals not meeting the minimum market weight can stay on the fairgrounds this year.
- Goats, sheep, swine should use test scale to gauge weights before coming to the official scale.
- If an exhibitor has no animal that makes weight they are allowed to show one in showmanship. See the fairbook for specific rules.
- No weighing of animals on official scales after they have been certified (only used for official weighins)
- Bring lambs sheared to weighin. Unsheared lambs will not be weighed. Rule states lambs should be sheared within 15 days of fair.
What are the weight requirements for market animals?
The lower weight requirements are set to meet the industry standards as best as possible and are as follows:
Market Heifers - 1,050 lbs
Market Steers - 1,150 lbs
Market Lambs - 100 lbs
Market Swine - 230 lbs
Meat Goats - 50 lbs
And what if my animal does not meet those lower weight requirements?
Animals that do not meet weight requirements are allowed this year to stay on the fairgrounds through fair. Underweight animals are NOT allowed to sell in the Livestock Premium Sale.
Can my animal weight too much?
There is no maximum weight for market classes or the sale but maximum pay weight is as follows:
Sheep-160 lbs Swine-300 lbs
Beef-1500 lbs Goats-120 lbs
We recommend that you aim to be near or below these weights for heavy weight animals.
Where do I check to make sure I am in the right class?
Classes are posted the day before the show on the boards in the center of the livestock barn in show order. We will also be posting all classes and other info on the file share site here: https://go.unl.edu/sbcfairinfo It is your responsibility to double check that all the information listed is correct. Go to the 4-H office, announcers stand, or text the Remind 101 system ASAP with corrections.
What do I wear to show in?
It is recommended by the 4-H that members in beef, sheep, meat goat, swine and small animals should wear blue or dark jeans, white shirt, and appropriate hard soled, closed toed shoes. No sleeveless shirts will be allowed. 4-H members showing dairy goats should wear white pants, white shirt, and appropriate shoes.
What if I see something that I think can be improved?
Our Livestock Committee and staff work all year to conduct a top notch fair! We are always looking for more volunteers and new ideas to improve our fair. All suggestions are welcome at the Post Fair Livestock Committee. Contact the Extension Office to be notified of the meeting date. Care to Share forms (located in your Family Exhibitor packet) are also a great way to share your ideas and solutions!
Greetings from your Sale Committee
What animals are included in the Scotts Bluff Co. Fair Junior Livestock Sale?
Market Beef, Market Swine, Market Sheep, Market Dairy Goats, Market Meat Goats, Market Rabbits, & Market Poultry are all eligible for the sale. Remember exhibitors can only sell one animal with the exception that all County Champion Animals must go through the sale.
How do I get my animal on the sale list?
The sale list is the working list for the sale. It includes the exhibitor name, parent names, animal id, animal placing, weight, and retain ownership. Each Exhibitor Family will be responsible for filling out this information on the ONLINE Sale Consignment Form. This is due 1 hour following the show of the animal you wish to list. You and your family will have until noon the following day to check the sale list (posted on the appropriate class boards or online: (https://go.unl.edu/sbcfairinfo) and submit any changes to Dustin & Kate Schmer (308) 672-5971. After the noon deadline only deletions can be made no changes! The sale list is final on Friday at noon.
I have my sheep on the sale list, but now I want to sell my beef instead. What do I do?
Deletions can be made to the sale list by filling out the appropriate question on the sale consignment form, so you can delete your sheep and then fill out a sale consignment form for your beef within 1 hour following the beef show. Don’t forget to check the sale list to make sure your sheep has been deleted and your beef is listed correctly.
How do I get the sale premium for my animal, but be able to take it home after the sale?
You must mark RETAIN on your sale entry form for that animal. Our sale is a premium sale, but the buyers use this field to know if an animal is available for processing. Please triple check the sale list!!!!
What do I do with my sheep and swine that don’t go through the sale?
You can take these “extra” animals home or you can put them on the EXTRA Animal Truck. There is a question at the bottom of your sale consignment form where you can add your extra animal. Please note that this service is only available if our Sale Buy Back Buyer offers this service which they most often do, but is not guaranteed.
Do I need to wash my animal for the Livestock Sale?
YES! Having your animal clean and presentable will bring out the best in your animal’s appearance.
The Livestock Sale is over! Now when do I get my check?
The Sale Committee has to first collect money from the buyers before they can pay you! It takes around 4-5 weeks for this process to occur. Please plan your livestock finances with this in mind. Please remember you are still responsible to feed, water and care for your animals until they leave the fairgrounds. Please refer to the fair book for specific rules on when you can take animals home.
I have an appointment with a local packing plant to process my animal right after fair. How does my animal get there?
The Livestock and Sale Committees are NOT able to provide transportation of animals to processors. It is the responsibility of the family and buyer to find transportation for their animals, including retained animals going through the sale.
Does my animal get sold by the pound or by the head?
ALL animals will be sold by the head.