Youth Admissions Policy: All youths under the age of sixteen (16) years old must be accompanied by an adult parent or legal guardian, twenty-one (21) years old or older, to be admitted to the South Carolina State Fair after 5:00 pm. Anyone age sixteen (16) and over may be asked to show a valid driver's license for proof of age in order to be admitted to the fair without a parent or guardian. Any young adult age sixteen (16) through twenty (20) without a valid driver's license and not accompanied by a parent or guardian will not be admitted after 5:00 pm. Exceptions and challenges to this policy will be satisfied at the discretion of the Fair Management.

Interpretation and Violation of Rules - The South Carolina State Fair reserves to fair management the right to interpret the following rules and regulations and determine all matters pertaining thereto; also the right to amend or add such rules as warranted. Violation of any of these regulations shall cause forfeiture of all privileges, prize money and the rights to further participation by the violator. This shall apply to all departments of the South Carolina State Fair.

Gate Operating Times - All gate operating times (opening and closing) are subject to change. In addition, Midway closing times may vary based on weather conditions and other influencing factors.

Security - All containers, packages and persons are subject to search upon arrival at the fairgrounds. The following items are not permitted on the fairgrounds:

• alcoholic beverages;
• concealable weapons;
• dogs or pets, other than guide dogs, except when confined and leashed within the campgrounds or unless they are part of an authorized act or exhibit;
• tents of any description unless they are part of an authorized act or exhibit

The sale of raffle tickets is prohibited.

Liability - Due diligence will be used to insure the safety of animals or articles on exhibit, but The Agricultural & Mechanical Society of South Carolina (South Carolina State Fair) expressly refuses to assume any liability for injuries to any person or damage to any property because of accidents, theft, fire, the elements, and other conditions. No claims for injury to any person or damage to property shall be asserted or suit instituted or maintained against the said Agricultural & Mechanical Society of South Carolina, its officers, agents, or employees by any person having privilege to exhibit or license to operate on the fairgrounds or occupying any space thereon.

COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS

In Buildings: Fine Art, Student Art, Agriculture, Flower, Home & Craft

Livestock: Beef & Dairy Cattle, Dairy Goat, Sheep, Small Stock, Swine, Youth & Open Horse, Youth Wether Goat

Application For Entry - All applicants for entry to exhibit any animal or article in the Fair must be registered using either the Online Entry System or mail an Official SC State Fair department entry form of the current year to the address indicated on the entry form, or deliver to the SC State Fair Dowling Administration Building and received by Noon of the Entry Registration Period (dates vary with each department).

Entry forms are available on the SC State Fair web site at scstatefair.org in the Online Premium Guide and on request at the SC State Fair office. Entry forms may be duplicated. The Fair does not publish a hard copy premium guide.

Entry Registration Periods (Open, Late & Very Late) are noted in the Online Premium Guide, on each department Index page, and also on Official entry forms. Entries must be received during the Open, Late or Very Late Entry Registration Periods. Entries received after these dates will not be accepted.

Late Entry Registration Period - Late Fees of $25 per exhibitor will be imposed during the Late Entry Registration Periods.

Very Late Entry Registration Period - Late Fees of $25 per exhibitor plus $25 per animal, class, or pen will be imposed on entries received during the Very Late Entry Registration Period.

Exhibitor Fees & Entry Fees - (Link to Privacy Statement)

• An Exhibitor Fee of $5.00 in addition to Entry Fees (which vary with each department) are required for the following departments or divisions: Open Dairy Cattle Division, Open Beef Cattle Division, Dairy Goat, Open Sheep Division, Smallstock (exception of Wildlife Division), Open Swine Division, Youth/Open Horse.
• There are no fees required in the following departments or divisions: Agriculture, Flowers, Home & Craft, Fine Art, Student Art, Youth Wether Goat, Junior Dairy Cattle Division, Junior Beef Cattle Division, and Junior Swine Division.
• Exhibitor and Entry fees are defined in the Online Premium Guide on each department's Index page, department rules and regulations, and on entry forms.
• Checks will not be accepted following the Closing Date for entries in any department. Any fees owed past the Closing Date must be paid on the day of the show to the Superintendent in cash or Money Order.
• Exhibitor and Entry Fees are non-refundable.

Delivery of Exhibits - Date, time and place of delivery are defined in the Online Premium Guide, on each department Index page, and on the Official entry forms.

Release of Exhibits - Release dates and times are defined in the Online Premium Guide, on each department Index page, and on the Official entry forms. Unclaimed exhibits and awards become property of the SC State Fair and will be donated to charity.

Early Removal of Exhibits - Any exhibitor removing animals or other exhibits before official release date and time for that department, without written consent of the superintendent, will forfeit all prizes and premiums.

Limitations of Competition - Competition in all livestock departments is open to the world, with exception of Youth Wether Goat (limited to South Carolina 4-H/FFA members). Entries in the Agriculture, Flower, Home & Craft, Fine Art, and Student Art departments are limited to residents of the State of South Carolina.

Animal Health Requirements for Exhibitions are noted in the Online Premium Guide on each department Index page in the rules and regulations.

Judging of Exhibits - No unworthy animal or article will be awarded prize money. Judges are instructed not to award prize money to any animal or article solely because of its presence. No award will be given to any animal or article that does not possess high intrinsic merit. If only one (1) animal or article is exhibited in a class, the premium awarded is left to the discretion of the judges. When animals or articles are not deemed worthy, judges will not award prize money, whether or not there is competition in the class. Dates and times of judging are noted in the Online Premium Guide Index page of each department.

Protest and Appeal - No protest based on the statement that the judge or judges were incompetent will be considered. Protest upon any other grounds must be presented in written form to Fair management within twenty-four (24) hours of the protested action. All questions of dispute with interpretation of rules shall be referred to the management whose decision shall be final.

Payment of Prize Money - Prize money (premiums) will be paid within thirty (30) days after the close of the Fair. No claim that prize money has not been paid, or that there was a discrepancy in payment of the prize money won, will be considered if made later than November 30 following the fair. Checks not cashed in ninety (90) days of date issued become void.