02 NCAC 20B .0305          JUDGES AND JUDGING

(a)  The judges shall read carefully the general rules and all special rules under the head of the department or class in which they are to serve; and especially note and follow those rules bearing on the classes to be judged by them.

(b)  Judges shall not award prizes to an unworthy exhibit.  No premium or distinction of any kind shall be given to any animal or article that is not deserving.  This Rule shall be in effect whether or not there is competition.

(c)  Judges shall report to the superintendent any exhibitor who in any way, whether in person or by agent or servant, interferes with them or shows any disrespect to them during the judging.  The superintendent may, in his discretion, demand a proper apology from such exhibitor or exclude him from further competition.  The fair may withhold from such exhibitor any or all premiums that have been awarded and expel him from further exhibiting at the fair.

(d)  The judges and persons acting as clerks to the judges, must use special care, after awards have been made, to see that the same are properly entered in the award book, for it is upon this entry that the payment of premiums is made.

(e)  The judge, superintendent and clerk recording the awards of the department must sign the award book at the close of each class immediately after all awards in said class have been made.

(f)  Judges will not award premiums to any article or animal because of its mere presence.  No premium will be awarded to any exhibit that does not possess high intrinsic merit.  Unless otherwise specified in the department rules and regulations, no exhibitor may win more than two premiums in any one individual class, and not more than one premium in any group class.  Premiums will be paid to winning exhibitors as soon after the awards are made as it is possible to compile and check all reports.  Premiums not paid during the fair will be mailed to the exhibitor at the post office address given on his entry form.

(g)  No person who is an exhibitor can act as judge in a class in which he is showing.

(h)  If there is any question as to the regularity of an entry, or the right of any animal or article to compete in any lot, the judge or judges shall report same to the superintendent in charge for adjustment.

(i)  A faithful observance of all rules governing the exhibit will be required and when in doubt as to the application or meaning of a rule, the superintendent in charge shall construe same by giving his opinion.  This opinion, when required by either exhibitor or judge, must be reduced to writing and returned to the entry department with the award books.

(j)  In judging livestock, the decision of the official veterinarian and judge as to soundness shall be final.

(k)  The decision of the judges shall be final in all cases, except when mistake, fraud, misrepresentation, or collusion, not discovered at the time of the award, is alleged.  In such cases, the fair manager shall make the final decision from which no appeal will lie.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 106‑503;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. September 19, 2015.