GUEST RELATIONS
An information booth will be located near the Dorton Exhibit Hall (area 5 and 6 on fairgrounds map) and will be maintained during opening hours of the fair. First aid stations, ambulance services and restrooms are conveniently located on the fairgrounds.

ADMISSION TO GROUNDS
Children ages 5 years old and under, senior citizens 65 years and older and individuals in a wheelchair and the person pushing the wheelchair will be admitted free.

PARKING
Free parking is available across the road from our main gate at Cleveland Community College and other parking lots owned/operated by the fair on Kemper Road. Handicapped parking is also available across the road from the main gate.

PATRONS
Patrons are requested to report any discourtesies from any Cleveland County Fair employee to our management located in the fair office (area 5 on fairgrounds map). Also, we welcome any constructive criticism or helpful suggestions toward bettering any part of our fair. If for any reason there is a misunderstanding concerning admission to the gates, passes, etc., please pay the gateman/ticket seller the regular admission requested and bring your receipt directly to the manager’s office (area 5 on the fairgrounds map). This will save you time and avoid any unnecessary blocking of the traffic gates as well.

RELEASE OF COMPETITIVE ENTRIES AND DISPLAYS
All competitive exhibits and displays will be released 2-7 p.m. Monday after the closing of the fair. Any article(s) not picked up within two weeks after the closing of the fair will be considered abandoned and will be disposed of by the fair management.
n All exhibits are under the direct supervision of the directors in charge and are on exhibition as part of the fair’s attractions. It is agreed by the exhibitors in making their entries that they will comply with the rules and regulations of the Cleveland County Fair or forfeit any premiums.

RULES GOVERNING ENTRIES, EXHIBITS AND AWARDS – GENERAL

PREMIUM CHECKS FOR DORTON HALL EXHIBITORS
Premium checks may be picked up by exhibitors during noted times:
6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, 2019
6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019
6-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019
3-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, 2019

Exhibits must remain on display until Monday after closing of the fair to avoid forfeiting premium checks.

The following rules and regulations become a part of the contract of each exhibitor, licensee, concessionaire and every other person having contractual relations with the fair.

The management of the Cleveland County Fair reserves the right to rule on all questions not covered by these rules.

In the event of conflict between the general rules and special rules governing any department, special rules will take precedence. Disregard of any rules or misrepresentation by exhibitor or concessionaire forfeits all premiums, rights and privileges without
recourse.

The management will use diligence to insure the safety of livestock and articles entered for exhibit or display after their arrival on the fairgrounds. Under no circumstances, however, will the fair or its management be responsible for any loss, injury, theft or damage by fire, lightning, wind or any other agency, to such livestock or articles on exhibition or display.
Promiscuous advertising is strictly prohibited. Exhibitors may advertise and distribute from their places of exhibit ONLY. Posting of signs on buildings or concessions is prohibited.

No peddling, hawking or selling of any kind will be allowed in the buildings or on the grounds except by special license obtained from the fair manager.

Drunkenness, quarreling or the use of profane or obscene language will not be permitted on the grounds.

The fair will use every possible means to protect property, BUT WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CARS OR PARTS OF CARS OR ARTICLES LEFT IN CARS.
No begging will be permitted on the fairgrounds.

No article or animal will be entitled to space until proper entry is made. After an article has been entered for a premium, it cannot be removed until the time designated for release of that department. If any person removes an article or animal prior to that time, they forfeit all claims to premiums even if same shall have been awarded.

Each department will be under the special charge of its director. The directors will oversee the arrangements of all articles offered for exhibition in their departments, have control of space assigned to them and deliver the articles on presentation of receipt at the close of the fair.

Articles entered under wrong classes may be reclassified at the discretion of the judges and the directors.

ENTRIES

• Competition is open to counties indicated in rules governing each department. Cleveland County is defined as all residents and those individuals living outside the county who participate in educational programs of N.C. Extension, schools and colleges in Cleveland County.
• Entries in livestock departments must be made online or on the Cleveland County Fair Entry Form for Livestock and Horses and must be in full compliance with the printed instructions on the form.
• Exhibitors should study the premium list carefully and when decision has been made as to which class to enter, they should fill out the entry blank with the class number, premium list number and name as they appear in the premium book. Entries may be made online, mailed or delivered in person to the Cleveland County Fair office at 1751 E Marion St., Shelby, NC 28152. No faxed copies will be accepted. No forms will be accepted by IM, Email, Text or Social Media.
• All livestock on exhibition must be cared for by the exhibitor. All stalls and pens will have a cedar bedding base provided by the Cleveland County Fair.
• All articles and livestock must be delivered to the grounds. No charge for transportation, express or drayage will be paid by the fair.
  

EXHIBITS

• The same article cannot compete for more than one premium except sweepstakes.
• All entries must be numbered and recorded in the books of the proper department and class. Corresponding tags will be issued, which must be attached to the exhibit before it can be placed on exhibition.
• No person will be allowed to see the entries or have access to the entry book until after the awards have been made.
• Exhibitors must see to the delivery of any articles or livestock on the grounds and to the proper care of the latter, as no charge for transportation or drayage will be paid by the fair.
• All exhibits (except as noted under Entries) must be installed by Tuesday (before the Thursday Fair opening) to receive attention from the awarding judges.
• Exhibitors may have the use of halls and grounds for any reasonable number of days before opening day. This allows sufficient time without any delays for the arranging and placing of their exhibits.
• Exhibitors should familiarize themselves with the premium list and regulations.
• The original entry card must in all cases be attached to the exhibit, except in the case of animals when the cards can be con- spicuously displayed on the stall or pen.
• Entries made in wrong classes may be reclassified at the re- quest of the judges, provided the reclassification is approved by the director of the department.
• Where there is only one entry in a class, the judge will deter- mine the proper placing for premium, unless otherwise stated in the department rules.

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS

Directors are not permitted to employ any help without writ- ten permission from the management. An invoice for all supplies or materials must be obtained at the time of delivery by the department head and approved by them.

Directors will receive all property entered for exhibition and see that tags are securely attached. They will arrange such property in a suitable and attractive manner.

Directors will also see that the property is not removed be- fore time specified under release. They will ensure that tags are matched on property upon removal as a means of preventing fraud and mistakes.

DIRECTORS ARE POSITIVELY FORBIDDEN TO MAKE SUG- GESTION OR INTERFERE WITH THE JUDGING IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.

Competition is open to Cleveland, Gaston, Lincoln and Rutherford counties unless otherwise noted in department headings.

JUDGES

The judges, when ready for duty, shall be furnished a list of all entries in their respective departments and books in which their placements of all exhibits are to be recorded.

Judges are especially instructed not to award premiums to any animal or articles because of its presence. It must be individu- ally worthy. It is not the policy of this fair to encourage indifferent production of any kind or to distribute premiums equally among exhibitors. No premiums shall be awarded to any animal or article that does not possess high intrinsic merit.

The director in charge shall be with the judges when making the examinations in their respective department. When profes- sional workers have assisted clubs, groups or individuals in preparing exhibits for any department, the professional worker shall not accompany the judges while they are judging the exhibits of these clubs, groups or individuals. As the awards are made, the director will attach the ribbon indicating the award.

The decision of the judges will be considered final. No ap- peal will be considered except in the case of protest in writing, with strong evidence of fraud or violation of the rules of the fair, which must be filed with the management of the fair before the premiums have been presented.

Reports must be signed by each judge in his own handwriting. However, judges cannot award premiums to articles not in the regular premium list.

With the agreement of the director, the judges may have wrong entries re-classed.

Judges may award premiums to single exhibits where specifically worthy when authorized by management through the director.