2018 Scotts Bluff County Fair
Frequently Asked Questions...with answers!!
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.
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 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.
When can I bring my animals to fair?
New this year, animals can only be brought to the fairgrounds a day before weigh in. This means no animals on the fairgrounds before Saturday.
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?
Thanks to Zach Martin and his crew we have the entire barn painted!! To make sure we keep it looking fresh for years to come 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 Fair Kickoff Party on Sunday at 7pm. 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. Note: the back of the affidavit form does not have a place for "Swine" just cross out one of the other species, write swine and list your tag numbers. 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.
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 are to be removed from the fairgrounds immediately following weigh-in.
- An Exhibitor with no animal that makes weight will be allowed to keep only 1 animal of any species to show in the respected showmanship class on the grounds, following the showmanship class the animal must leave the fairgrounds.
- Goats, sheep, swine should use test scale to gauge weights before coming to the official scale.
- 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 to be taken home after weigh-in. Exhibitors have until 11 pm Sunday night to remove these animals from the fairgrounds. Underweight animals are NOT allowed to sell in the Livestock Premium Sale or housed on the fairgrounds, but can be used in showmanship if that is the Exhibitor's only animal.
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://unl.box.com/v/sbc18 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
- Turn sale sheets(from your livestock packet) into the lock box on the side of the 4-H Office no later than 1 hour following the conclusion of the market show.
There are a few important changes this year when it comes to processing your animal at the conclusion of the fair.
- This year, all animals will be sold per head instead of per pound as we have done in the past. We hope this change will help to avoid any confusion during the sale. Each animal will have a resale price listed in the sale book, making buyers calculations easier on the spot.
- If you are interested in bidding, but unable to attend or would like to discuss group buying options, we are excited to announce the formation of the new Friends of Scotts Bluff County Junior Livestock Sale Buyers Group. This non-profit group is dedicated to serving the 4H and FFA Youth of Scotts Bluff County by helping the buyers. Please contact Tony Kaufman for more information 308-633-9005 or 308-641-5826
- The Scotts Bluff County Sale and Livestock Committees will not be responsible for the transportation of any animal to processors, however if you need help to arrange transportation, please contact Shain Shimic 307-575-3333. (make sure this is conveyed to potential buyers)
- Many area processors have changed their services, please do not assume because you used them last year, it will be fine this year.
- There are plenty of processors still taking reservations and appointments.
Thanks for your time -please contact Kate Schmer (or any of the other sale committee members) with any questions, 308-672-5971.
Livestock Sale Info
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 a Sale Entry Form. These forms can be found in your Exhibitor Packet and are due 1 hour following the show of the animal you wish to list. Your sheet MUST be placed in the lockbox on the side of the 4-H office before the deadline. You and your family will have until 9am the following day to check the sale list (posted on the appropriate class boards or online: https://unl.box.com/v/sbc18) and submit any changes to 4-H Staff. After the 9am 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, so you can delete your sheep and then fill out a sale entry 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. An Extra Animal List form will need to be filled out and turned in by Friday at 9 am to the 4-H Office. Please note that this service is only available if our Sale Buy Back Buyer offers this service which they most often do.
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 2-3 weeks for this process to occur. Please plan your livestock finances with this in mind.
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 this year. It is the responsibility of the family and buyer to find transport for their animals, including retain animals going through the sale.Does my animal get sold by the pound or by the head?
New this year, ALL animals will be sold by the head. Contact a sale committee member if you have questions about this change.
Fair Schedule for Saturday and Sunday!
7 am....................4-H Horse Check-in – Historic Saddle Club
8 am....................4-H Horse Show Begins
8 am....................4-H Shooting Sports Fair Shoot – Rifle Sit Pass Road (BB Gun, Pellet Rifle, .22 Steel Target, .22 Silhouette Competition, and Archery)
Sunday, July 29, 2018
7–11 am ..............Weigh-in Swine – According to Club time slot – Livestock Barn
8 am....................4-H Dog Show Check-in – Sandford Hall
8:30 am ...............4-H Dog Show
Noon–3 pm .........Enter 4-H Static Exhibits – Events Center (INCLUDING: Foods, Gardening, Field Crops)
12:30–2 pm .........Weigh-in/Ultrasound Sheep – FFA Barn Weigh-in Market Goats – FFA Barn (includes Market & Dairy)
2–3:30 pm ...........Weigh-in/Ultrasound Beef – FFA Barn
7 pm....................Fair Kickoff Party
Further info: https://go.unl.edu/sbcherdsinfo