General Rules

Rules and Regulations

All exhibitors (excluding commercial exhibitors) must have an exhibitor number before entering any exhibit. This number is assigned only once. If you acquired a number in the past, the same number will apply for all entries in all departments thereafter, year after year. If you do not have an exhibitor number, you may obtain one at the Record of Exhibits Office prior to the opening day of the Fair. This number must accompany every entry.
All animals that are exhibited at the fair must be shown in a class.
Hookstown Fair Inc. has the right to accept or refuse any and all entries.
All livestock exhibitors in Departments 1-11 must register animals in advance. Entry forms are available to print via the fair website, may be obtained from the Record of Exhibits Office or from department chairperson. Entry forms must be returned to the address printed on that individual form. All animal entries must be postmarked by August 10. If applicable stall/pen fees must accompany each entry form. Once your entry is confirmed you will hear from the leader of that species, with the necessary information and gate admission policies. When livestock stalls/pens are filled to capacity, entries will be refused based on latest postmark date.
All cattle must be double tied. All cattle must have one rope on the double tie, no baler twine. If rules and regulations are not followed, exhibitors are subject to forfeit of prize money.
All livestock exhibitors must furnish their own feed, hay, and bedding. Supplies may be brought in by vehicle between the hours of 6am-9am through Gate 6 (next to Historical Village).
All exhibitors will be expected to keep the space they occupy in a clean and sanitary condition, accept the stall assigned without controversy, assist in the removal of manure daily, cooperate with the department in every way.
Exhibitors of livestock must know when your shows are to be judged. Livestock must be in the ring promptly on call, failure to comply with the order renders exhibitors liable to be ruled out in competing.
Any animal of unthrifty nature or unsuitable condition or that cannot be satisfactorily handled must be removed from the fairgrounds immediately. The International Association of Fairs and Expositions National Code of Show Ring Ethics will be followed.
Decorating with ribbons previously won shall be prohibited until after the judges have made the awards in their respective classes.
Drugs administered to livestock prior to or during the fair for the purpose of controlling disposition or showmanship performance are prohibited. Hookstown Fair Inc. reserves the right to draw blood, collect urine or check hair from any animal.
All animals entered in breeding classes must be recorded or accepted for registry in the recognized books for their respective breeds. Exhibitors must have registration and transfer certificates available for inspection by Hookstown Fair Inc. at any time until the judging of the breed is completed. Only original registration papers will be accepted when checking entries. A photocopy is needed for the department chairman to keep. If animal is being shown in a non-registered grade class, no registration papers are needed.
All Horses and Ponies that are brought onto the Fairgrounds for any events during the Fair (ex. Open Barrel Racing, Open Horse Show etc.) must follow all health requirements of Hookstown Fair Inc.
Any animal consigned for slaughter shall not receive any injection or oral administration of drugs, biologics, etc., less than 21 days prior to August 19. If upon slaughter, a recent injection administration is the cause of contamination of a carcass, the loss of the carcass will be borne by the exhibitor.
Livestock Entry Times:

Sunday, August 17

10 am – 1 pm Open Youth Market Swine may be entered

1 pm – 6 pm Open Youth Market Animals (except swine) may be entered

2 pm – 6 pm Horse entries may be entered

3 pm – 5 pm Dairy Beef & Sheep may be entered

Monday, August 18

11 am – 4 pm Horse entries may be entered

12 pm – 2 pm Goats may be entered

12 pm – 9 pm Dairy, Beef & Sheep may be entered

1 pm – 4 pm Rabbits may be entered

6 pm – 9 pm Goats may be entered

TBD Poultry

16. All Open Youth Market Livestock animals are to arrive on Sunday, August 17, 10am-6pm. Those animals will be weighed at the time of arrival.

All such animals shall remain on the grounds until released at 10:30pm Saturday, August 23. No exhibitors’ cars or trucks will be permitted through gates or on grounds until midnight unless other arrangements have been made with Hookstown Fair Inc. EARLY REMOVAL WILL FORFEIT PREMIUM PAYMENT. Security will be provided for livestock until 8 am, Sunday, August 24.

17. Hookstown Fair Inc. will exercise every care in the protection of exhibits but will not be responsible for the loss or damage from any cause, including fire or theft. All exhibits will be under the direction of the Hookstown Fair Inc. and the appointed committees. In no case will they be responsible for any loss, injury or damage done or occasioned by or arising from any animal exhibited by the exhibitor and shall indemnify Hookstown Fair Inc. against legal or other proceedings in regard thereto. Upon these conditions only are entries accepted.

18. Hookstown Fair Inc. will accept entries for only the classes published in the premium listings as long as space is available in that particular department.

19. Hookstown Fair Inc. at any time, can order the removal of any exhibit or part of any exhibit in bad condition, exclude any entry unfit to show, or withhold premium payment. Food products cannot be polluted with any substance or chemical that causes them to become poisonous and unfit to be used as food. Failure to comply will constitute dismissal from the fairgrounds. The decision of Hookstown Fair Inc. is final.

20. Hookstown Fair Inc. will not assume responsibility for the payment of premiums offered other than those provided by Hookstown Fair Inc.

21. Hookstown Fair Inc. agrees to pay all premiums in full, providing the receipts are sufficient to do so, after deducting the necessary operating expenses, and in case the receipts are not sufficient, reserves the right to pay premiums pro-rata.

22. Hookstown Fair Inc. reserves the right to withhold any premium for lack of merit of exhibit and authorizes the judge to award a lower place premium when deemed necessary.

23. The decision of the judge is final.

24. When award ribbons are stolen or destroyed, the exhibitor may receive a duplicate ribbon at the Record of Exhibits Office free of charge.

25. All entries for Departments 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22 and 23 will be accepted from 1-5 pm on Sunday, August 17 ONLY. All 4-H Club (Department 10 Sections A-13 through A-29) entries will be accepted 1-5 pm on Sunday, August 17. Special Baking entries will be accepted from 8-11 am on Monday, August 18.

26. All exhibits will be released at 10 pm Saturday, August 23. EXHIBITS MUST REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL RELEASED TO QUALIFY FOR PREMIUMS. Exhibits must be picked up by 11 pm on Saturday, August 23.

27. All premium checks must be cashed within 90 days from the date of the check. After 90 days the check will be forfeited. No new checks will be issued.

28. Exhibit halls will be closed to the public during the judging of entries on Monday, August 18, at 9 am and will remain closed until the opening of the fair on August 19, 2025.

29. $10 discount admission tickets and $25 no-frills weekly admission tickets are available from July 11 - August 18, on-line, at the Fair Office or at local stores. (Visit the website to see the list of stores and hours of the fair office to purchase tickets). The no-frills weekly admission ticket does not include mechanical riding privileges. Gates will open daily Tuesday, August 19 - Saturday, August 23, at 8am. Daily gate admission is $12. Admission includes mechanical rides, main stage entertainment, main arena events.

30. Children 24 months of age and younger will be admitted free (does not include rides). If your child wants to ride, they must have a ride wrist band. Most rides require that the child is 36” or taller.

31. Senior citizens, age 60 and older, will be admitted free all-day Tuesday, August 19 with the proper senior citizen identification. (Pennsylvania Senior Citizen Card, West Virginia Mountaineer Card, Ohio Golden Buckeye Card, or state driver’s license. Wednesday – Saturday, regular daily admission price will apply.

32. All unauthorized people must be off the grounds by midnight.

33. In the event of inclement weather, no admission refunds will be given.

34. Use of alcoholic beverages or drugs is prohibited while on the fairgrounds.

35. Recreational scooters, hoverboards and of the like will not be permitted on the fairgrounds.

36. No dogs leashed or unleashed, except for seeing-eye dogs, dogs on exhibit and performing dogs, will be permitted on the fairgrounds.

37. No firearms or weapons of any kind will be permitted on the fairgrounds. All violators will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

38. The Hookstown Fair Inc. reserves the right to amend or add to these rules and regulations as its judgment may determine.

39. At any time, Hookstown Fair Inc., has the authority to remove any vendor, exhibitor or spectator. The decision of Hookstown Fair Inc. is final.