Exhibitor Entry & Class Information

🎡 Showcase Your Talents at the Fair!

From horses and rabbits to needlepoint and photography, fairs have long celebrated the creativity, dedication, and skill of our community. Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or trying something new, there’s a place for you to shine.

Explore our wide range of entry categories in both 4-H and Open Class—and let your hard work take center stage!

Open Class

🎭 A Different Kind of Live Show

Open Class Exhibits are your chance to take the spotlight—anyone can enter! Whether you’re a seasoned exhibitor or trying something new, we invite you to showcase your talents. Check out the departments listed below for entry requirements and general information.

💰 Important Note: Premium checks must be cashed within 180 days of issuance. Uncashed checks will be considered a donation to the Ionia Free Fair.

📩 Questions? We’re here to help! Email us at office@ioniafreefair.com

4 - H

🌟 Join the 4-H & FFA Show!

Our 4-H & FFA Show is open to all youth ages 5–19 as of January 1 of the current year, provided they are enrolled in 4-H or FFA by May 1. Participation offers incredible opportunities to build lifelong skills in leadership, responsibility, and civic engagement.

🎨🐾🌱 Whether you’re passionate about crafts, community service, entrepreneurship, or animals, our classes provide hands-on experiences to help you grow and explore your interests.

📅 Members join clubs that match their passions and attend meetings and events throughout the year. You do NOT need to own an animal to participate! We offer many clubs that focus on non-animal projects—or let you learn about animals without owning one.

Important Exhibitor Guidelines – Please Read

The Ionia Free Fair is powered by a dedicated team of volunteers, especially on the Exhibitor side. These individuals work tirelessly year-round, not just during the 10 days of the fair. Please treat them with kindness and respect—and if you get the chance, a simple “thank you” goes a long way.

📋 Fair Leadership & Decisions The decisions made by the Fair Board and Fair Manager are final. While your feedback is welcome, their rulings—whether written or verbal—are the official policy.

🚧 Barn & Building Safety To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all guests:

Keep aisleways clear of debris, fans, hoses, and equipment.
Fans must not be placed on gates or panels facing the aisle, especially where children may reach to pet animals.
You may hang fans from rafters, wooden boards between posts, or side panels where they are safely out of reach.

🐾 Pen Placement Pens must remain in their assigned locations. Do not move or modify pens without permission from the species superintendent, Fair Board, or designated officers. Unauthorized changes will result in a $100 fine.

📌 Rule Updates This is not a complete list of rules. The Fair reserves the right to add or adjust policies as needed to ensure safety, fairness, and smooth operations.

🎉 Let the Kids Shine Above all, remember—this fair is for the kids. Let them learn, grow, and have fun.

4H youth

Horse & Pony Record Books:

~ Cloverbud

~ Junior 8 – 11

~ Intermediate 12 – 14

~ Senior 15 – 19

dairy cattle

Dairy Designation Form

dairy feeders

Dairy Feeder Designation Form

Dairy goats

poultry

Cavy Record Books:

~ Cloverbud Cavy 5 – 7

~ Cavy 8 – 19

Showmanship Sweepstakes

Stills

General Rules

Arts, Crafts, Photography & Etc.

Foods & Nutrition

Horticulture & Floriculture

open class

General Information:

~ Superintendents

~ 2025 Open Class Schedule

~ Chickens & Bunnies

~ Pee Wee

Livestock auction committe

Rules & regulations

1. No fans or tack boxes are allowed in the aisles.

2. Pen center dividers must not be removed. There is a $100.00 fine for removing a center divider.

3. All champions may sell. If an exhibitor sells more than two champions, all of his or her non-champion livestock will not be run through the sale.

4. All pigs must have an 840 tag.

5. No animals will be brought to the sale ring except champions, showmanship winners, and senior exhibitors who declare this year to be their last year to sell.

6. When a buyer purchases an animal, they may choose to have the animal processed, resold or taken home. On the Friday after the sale, any changes to the destinations need to be made by 1pm or when the phone call to the buyer is completed. If multiple buyers are purchasing the same animal, they will need to use only one buyer number. All sales are final. The sale committee is not responsible for facilitating any sale beyond the original sale. There will be a public posting for parents and youth to verify where the animals are going. There is absolutely no animal/tag swapping. Once the animal is sold to the buyer, they are now the owner of that animal with the said tag number.

7. If an exhibitor chooses to provide their own sale picture(s) for the sale, they must be submitted by Sunday at 6pm.

8. Every exhibitor must help at the sale. There will be a $100.00 fee docked from your sale check for failure to help with the sale.

9. There is a mandatory meeting held on the Wednesday before the sale at 11am to review important information about Thursday’s sale. The exhibitor or responsible adult from the exhibitor’s family must be present.

Exhibitor Entry & Class Information

🎡 Showcase Your Talents at the Fair!

Open Class

4 - H

Important Exhibitor Guidelines – Please Read

4H youth

General Information:

departments:

Horse & Pony Record Books:

~ Cloverbud

~ Junior 8 – 11

~ Intermediate 12 – 14

~ Senior 15 – 19

dairy cattle

Dairy Designation Form

Dairy Cattle Record Books:

dairy feeders

Dairy Feeder Designation Form

Dairy Feeder Record Books:

Large market animals

Large Market Animal Record Books:

Dairy goats

Poultry Record Books:

Rabbit Record Books:

Cavy Record Books:

Showmanship Sweepstakes

Stills

Foods & Nutrition

open class

General Information:

~ 2025 Open Class Schedule

classes:

~ Chickens & Bunnies

~ Pee Wee

Livestock auction committe

Rules & regulations

1. No fans or tack boxes are allowed in the aisles.

2. Pen center dividers must not be removed. There is a $100.00 fine for removing a center divider.

3. All champions may sell. If an exhibitor sells more than two champions, all of his or her non-champion livestock will not be run through the sale.

4. All pigs must have an 840 tag.

5. No animals will be brought to the sale ring except champions, showmanship winners, and senior exhibitors who declare this year to be their last year to sell.

7. If an exhibitor chooses to provide their own sale picture(s) for the sale, they must be submitted by Sunday at 6pm.

8. Every exhibitor must help at the sale. There will be a $100.00 fee docked from your sale check for failure to help with the sale.

9. There is a mandatory meeting held on the Wednesday before the sale at 11am to review important information about Thursday’s sale. The exhibitor or responsible adult from the exhibitor’s family must be present.