AUGUST 21-25, 2012

Fair Residency Policy

[Click Here to download this information in PDF format]

The Oceana County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) has recently initiated a new residency policy.  As our Fair becomes more and more crowded, the Fair Board wants to make sure that Oceana County residents will have opportunity to enter the fair.  The policy reads as follows:

DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS IN PROJECTS, THE OCEANA COUNTY AGRICULATURAL SOCIETY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO LIMIT PARTICIPATION IN THE OCEANA COUNTY FAIR TO YOUTH WHO ARE ENROLLED IN AN OCEANA COUNTY SCHOOL OR WHO ARE ENROLLED IN A SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ENCOMPASSES OCEANA COUNTY LANDS.  HOME-SCHOOLED YOUTH MUST RESIDE IN AN OCEANA COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT OR DISTRICT ENCOMPASSING OCEANA COUNTY LANDS.

OPEN CLASS EXHIBITORS SHALL BE LIMITED TO OCEANA COUNTY RESIDENTS UNLESS SPACE IS AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WISH TO ENTER.

So, if there is  room in a project, there is no problem with out of the county participation.  But, if there is crowding in a project, participations will be limited to Oceana County residents.  We have plenty of room in arts and crafts, sewing, canning, group displays, vegetable and fruit, horses, etc.  Chickens and swine are the two areas that have been very crowded over the last couple of years. 

Relationship of 4-H and the Oceana County Agricultural Society

We would like to explain what the relationship of the 4-H Program is with the Oceana County Agricultural Society (Fair Board).  Throughout the state there are a number of different Fairs, some are 4-H Fairs, some are County Fairs and some, like ours, are privately owned.  4-H has been a guest of the Oceana County Agricultural Society for a great number of years, so there are those who think 4-H is in control.  This is not the case. 

Because we are invited guests, we must be the one who limits participation.  It is not the Fair Board's responsibility to accommodate us when we have too many participants.  The Fair Board, over the years, has been very accommodating when we have asked for improvements, but there is just not enough room for expansion.  4-H provides a lot of support to the Fair Board in exchange for us taking up almost all of the available space. 

Also, it is not a requirement of 4-H to participate in the Fair.   The Fair is an opportunity to display what 4-Her’s have accomplished and it is your choice to enter the Fair or not.  It is not a requirement of 4-H to complete your project. We hope that this explanation helps in eliminating any misunderstandings about our relationship or who is in charge.