Fair's Market Beef Deadlines Coming Up
By Diane Booth Conway,
Merced County Fair Communications & Marketing Director

   The 2008 Merced County Fair isn’t until July, but there's an important date coming up for all market beef exhibitors.
   All market beef exhibitors -- 4-H, FFA and independents -- planning to enter their animals in the 2008 Merced County Fair are required to participate in a one-day only event. All market beef exhibitors must bring their animals to Turlock Livestock, 10430 North Lander Ave., Turlock, on Monday, March 17 from 1 to 4 p.m.
   All animals will be pre-weighed and hair follicles will be pulled for potential DNA testing and animals also will be ear tagged.
   Merced County Fair representatives will be at Turlock Livestock yard that day to obtain owner information, take the animal's certified scale weight and pull a hair sample to be put on file.
   All exhibitors planning to enter market beef at the fair must submit all required information to fair officials by March 17. Independent junior exhibitors entering market animals in the fair must provide fair management with a copy of their birth certificate or driver's license as proof of age. This is a local requirement implemented last year.
   According to state requirements, exhibitors also must submit a photo of their animal, appropriate proof of ownership, permanent tag, tattoo and/or hog ear notch information 120 days before the fair for beef and 60 days for market sheep, swine and goats. The fair is July 15-20.
   Independent junior exhibitors planning to exhibit market beef at the fair must turn in all required information to the fair office by March 17. Independent juniors showing market swine, goats or sheep must comply with the same requirements by May 16.
   “Juniors in 4-H or FFA are usually on top of deadlines, but it’s important for independent exhibitors to be current on procedures and deadlines, especially the relatively new proof of age rule,” said Robin Hauck, the fair’s CEO.
   The 2008 Fair theme is "Come Rock With The Flock," a celebration of sheep, one of the county's top agricultural products.
   The fairgrounds office is located at 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced. For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Check out the 2008 Merced County Fair’s award-winning website, www.MercedCountyFair.com

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