Exhibitor Entry & Class Information

From horses & rabbits to needlepoint & photography, fairs have always been about presenting your talents and skills for all to view. Check out our available categories in 4-H and Open.

Show Us What You Got!

4-H

Our 4-H & FFA show is open to all youth 5-19 years of age on January 1st of the current year that are enrolled in 4-H & FFA by May 1st of the current year. Involvement provides many
opportunities for members to gain skills in leadership, responsibility, and civic engagement to be successful throughout their lifetime.

4-H & FFA classes provide a variety of experiences to learn and grow personal interests such as crafts, community service, entrepreneurship, and animals.

Members join clubs that interest them. They attend club meetings and club events throughout the year. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OWN AN ANIMAL. There are many different clubs that are not involved with animals or that you can learn about animals without having one of your own

Open Class

A Different Kind of Live Show

Open Class Exhibits are available for ANYONE to enter. Please see the departments listed below for requirements and general information.

**Any premium checks not cashed within 180 Days of issuance will be considered a donation back to the Ionia Free Fair.**

Quick Questions…email us fairexhibitors@ioniafreefair.com

resources & rules

Please remember that this fair especially on the Exhibitor side, is mostly run by volunteers. They put time into this program ALL year long, not just the 10 days of fair, so please be respectful and maybe even thank them for putting in the time.
The decisions of the fair board and the fair Executive Director or Fair/Grounds manager are final. You are welcome to put in your opinion, but their final decision is the rule whether it is written or not.
The isle ways of the barns/buildings for exhibitors whether an animal or an object, need to be kept clear of debris, fans, hoses, equipment etc to allow for the Guests to be safe in visiting the barns/buildings. This means, especially with fans, that there should be no fans on the gates/panels of the animal’s pens that are at the isle. This is a safety issue with children and them wanting to pet the animals and the fans being right there. You are welcome to hang them from the rafters, wood boards between posts, from the side panels of the pens where they cannot be reached etc.
No pens are to be moved around or changed in any way except with permission from the superintendent of that species or the fair board or officers – There will be a $100 fine assessed for moving them.
This is not a final list of rules …. if something needs to be addressed or changed or a new rule made, we have the ability and authority at any time to add to this list.
Please allow the children to have fun… this is for them.

4H youth

General Information:

~ Superintendents

~ 2025 Schedule of Events

~ General Rules & Requirements

Horse & Pony Record Books:

~ Cloverbud

~ Junior 8 – 11

~ Intermediate 12 – 14

~ Senior 15 – 19

dairy cattle

Dairy Designation Form

Dairy Cattle Record Books:

~ Cloverbud

~ Junior 8 – 11

~ Intermediate 12 – 14

~ Senior 15 – 19

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

~ Floriculture

~ 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

Show Us What You Got!

4-H

Open Class

resources & rules

4H youth

General Information:

~ 2025 Schedule of Events

departments:

Horse & Pony Record Books:

~ Cloverbud

~ Junior 8 – 11

~ Intermediate 12 – 14

~ Senior 15 – 19

dairy cattle

Dairy Designation Form

Dairy Cattle Record Books:

~ Cloverbud

~ Junior 8 – 11

~ Intermediate 12 – 14

~ Senior 15 – 19

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

General Rules

Arts, Crafts, Photography & Etc.

Foods & Nutrition

open class

General Information:

~ 2025 Open Class Schedule

classes:

~ Floriculture

~ 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.