An important deadline is almost here for independent junior exhibitors planning to enter their goats, sheep or swine at the 2012 Merced County Fair. The date to remember is April 16.
Independent junior exhibitors entering market animals in the fair must register with the fair office by 5 p.m. April 16 and give fair management a copy of their birth certificate or driver's license as proof of age. This is a local requirement. That deadline date is 60 days before the fair, which is June 13-17.
According to state requirements, all independent junior exhibitors entering market animals must provide fair management with a photo of their animal, appropriate proof of ownership, permanent tag, tattoo and/or hog ear notch information. The fair's deadline for independent junior exhibitors entering market beef has already passed.
Rules for California fairs require independent juniors who want to exhibit market sheep, goats or swine at the fair must be at least nine years old or in the fourth grade by Jan. 1, 2012. Exhibitors are eligible to compete through Dec. 31 of the year when they turn 19 years old.
All required information must be submitted to the fair office at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced. For information call 722-1507, fax at 722-3773, e-mail Info@MercedCountyFair.com or go to www.MercedCountyFair.com.