DORCHESTER FAIR COMPETITION RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Membership and Eligibility
● Open to Everyone: Most competitions are open to the public.
● Entry Fee: All adult entrants must pay a $5.00 entry/membership fee.
● Ownership: Every item you enter must be your own work and your bona fide property.
● Grown by Exhibitor: All flowers and produce must be grown by you during the current year, unless the category specifically says otherwise.
● No Names Allowed: To keep judging fair, please ensure your name or initials are not visible on any item (except for metal engravings).
2. How to Enter
● Online Entry: Available 2 weeks prior to the Fair at https://www.dorchesterfair.com/
● In-Person Entry Forms: Please complete the official Entry Form, clearly listing the Class and Section for each item.
● Exhibitor Numbers: You must have an exhibitor number to enter. You can get this from the Secretary-Treasurer during the week before the Fair. Phone 519-268-2621
● Entry Limits: You may only enter one item per Section in any Class, unless stated otherwise.
● Tagging: All articles must have an official entry tag firmly attached to be eligible for judging, with the Class (letter) and Section (number). See next page.
● Deadlines: It is your responsibility to ensure entries arrive at the grounds before the deadlines.
3. Important Dates
● Entry items accepted: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7 pm to 9 pm and Friday, October 9, 2026, from 9 am to 12 pm (noon).
● Articles must not be removed until closing
● Judging: begins at 1:30 pm on Friday, October 9, 2026
● Item Pick-up: Monday, October 12, 2026, beginning at 5:00 pm.
● Unclaimed Items: Any entries not picked up may be disposed of, and prize money may be forfeited.
3. Quality and Standards
● Condition of Work: Judges may disqualify any items that are soiled, defaced, or considered "old work". We aim to showcase new and up-to-date work.
● Judge’s Discretion: If there is only one entry in a category, the judge will decide if the item is worthy of a prize.
● Section Splits: If a category has a very high number of entries, the committee and judge may choose to split the section to award more prizes.
4. Judging and Conduct
● No Interference: Exhibitors are not allowed to approach the judges while they are working.
● Anonymity: You must not identify yourself as the owner of an item to a judge.
● Learning Opportunity: Because the Fair is about education, judges may be asked to explain the reasons behind their decisions.
● Judging Standards: Set by the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.
● Final Decisions: The judge’s decision is final. If a dispute arises that is not covered by these rules, the Board of Directors will make the final call.
5. Prizes and Payments
● Point System: For categories where prizes are awarded on points, the scale is: 1st place = 4 points, 2nd place = 3 points, and 3rd place = 1 point.
● Payment Method: Prize money will be paid by cash when items are picked-up on Monday.
● Deadlines for Payments: All prize money must be claimed by December 31st of the current year, or they will be donated back to the Fair.
● Rain Clause: If receipts are low due to bad weather, the Society will pay at least 50% of the prize money, plus whatever else the budget allows.
6. Safety, Liability, and Privacy
● Risk: While we take every precaution to keep your items safe, all entries are made at the owner's risk.
● Loss or Damage: The N.D.A.S. and its Directors are not responsible for accidents, lost, or stolen items on the fairgrounds. We will provide any help we can to recover lost items, but we cannot pay for their value.
● Agreements: All exhibitors must sign a "Hold Harmless Agreement" (parents/guardians must sign for those under 18).
● Privacy: Any personal information we collect is for Society use only and will not be shared or sold to outside organizations.
1. Membership and Eligibility
● Open to Everyone: Most competitions are open to the public.
● Entry Fee: All adult entrants must pay a $5.00 entry/membership fee.
● Ownership: Every item you enter must be your own work and your bona fide property.
● Grown by Exhibitor: All flowers and produce must be grown by you during the current year, unless the category specifically says otherwise.
● No Names Allowed: To keep judging fair, please ensure your name or initials are not visible on any item (except for metal engravings).
2. How to Enter
● Online Entry: Available 2 weeks prior to the Fair at https://www.dorchesterfair.com/
● In-Person Entry Forms: Please complete the official Entry Form, clearly listing the Class and Section for each item.
● Exhibitor Numbers: You must have an exhibitor number to enter. You can get this from the Secretary-Treasurer during the week before the Fair. Phone 519-268-2621
● Entry Limits: You may only enter one item per Section in any Class, unless stated otherwise.
● Tagging: All articles must have an official entry tag firmly attached to be eligible for judging, with the Class (letter) and Section (number). See next page.
● Deadlines: It is your responsibility to ensure entries arrive at the grounds before the deadlines.
3. Important Dates
● Entry items accepted: Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7 pm to 9 pm and Friday, October 9, 2026, from 9 am to 12 pm (noon).
● Articles must not be removed until closing
● Judging: begins at 1:30 pm on Friday, October 9, 2026
● Item Pick-up: Monday, October 12, 2026, beginning at 5:00 pm.
● Unclaimed Items: Any entries not picked up may be disposed of, and prize money may be forfeited.
3. Quality and Standards
● Condition of Work: Judges may disqualify any items that are soiled, defaced, or considered "old work". We aim to showcase new and up-to-date work.
● Judge’s Discretion: If there is only one entry in a category, the judge will decide if the item is worthy of a prize.
● Section Splits: If a category has a very high number of entries, the committee and judge may choose to split the section to award more prizes.
4. Judging and Conduct
● No Interference: Exhibitors are not allowed to approach the judges while they are working.
● Anonymity: You must not identify yourself as the owner of an item to a judge.
● Learning Opportunity: Because the Fair is about education, judges may be asked to explain the reasons behind their decisions.
● Judging Standards: Set by the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies.
● Final Decisions: The judge’s decision is final. If a dispute arises that is not covered by these rules, the Board of Directors will make the final call.
5. Prizes and Payments
● Point System: For categories where prizes are awarded on points, the scale is: 1st place = 4 points, 2nd place = 3 points, and 3rd place = 1 point.
● Payment Method: Prize money will be paid by cash when items are picked-up on Monday.
● Deadlines for Payments: All prize money must be claimed by December 31st of the current year, or they will be donated back to the Fair.
● Rain Clause: If receipts are low due to bad weather, the Society will pay at least 50% of the prize money, plus whatever else the budget allows.
6. Safety, Liability, and Privacy
● Risk: While we take every precaution to keep your items safe, all entries are made at the owner's risk.
● Loss or Damage: The N.D.A.S. and its Directors are not responsible for accidents, lost, or stolen items on the fairgrounds. We will provide any help we can to recover lost items, but we cannot pay for their value.
● Agreements: All exhibitors must sign a "Hold Harmless Agreement" (parents/guardians must sign for those under 18).
● Privacy: Any personal information we collect is for Society use only and will not be shared or sold to outside organizations.
