Common Ground Country Fair
Animal Products Area Guidelines
2005 Animal Products Area Application (PDF format, 140K)
2005 Animal Products Application Letter
Coordinator: MaryLynn FitzSimons
Purpose: The purpose of the Animal Products Area is to provide a venue for family farms to market goods produced on their farms from animals they raise, as well as educate the public about the connections between the animals and their products.
Application Procedure and Guidelines
1. Applicants must read and abide by the general guidelines for the Common Ground Country Fair.
2. The Animal Products coordinator will choose or solicit vendors from Maine. All vendors must raise or harvest materials from their own animals. If a particular animal product is not available in Maine, or Maine producers choose not to participate in the Fair, the coordinator may solicit out-of-state vendors.
3. The CGCF defines an Animal Products Area exhibit as a vendor and a display of animal products. The vendor must be knowledgeable about the display items, the production process and the animals from which the products are derived. The CGCF encourages, but does not require, vendors to bring their own animals to the Fair. At the disgression of the Animal Products and Livestock coordinators, demonstrators may borrow demonstration animals from The Livestock Area of the Fair.
4. All goods offered for sale must be listed on the application for vendor space, and approved by the Area Coordinator. In addition, orders may be taken at the Fair only for those products approved for exhibit and sale.
5. At least 75% of the goods displayed (as determined by size of the exhibit) must be "farm produced." A minimum of 75% of the raw materials in "farm produced" products, as determined by fair market value, must originate from the participating farm. Wherever possible, auxiliary materials used in these goods should be produced in Maine.
6. The sale of "Bartlett yarns" or other yarns from fiber not directly produced by animals raised on the vendors farm, is restricted to those for whom these mule-spun yarns are essential to the products they offer. The intention to sell these yarns must be clearly stated on the application, and is at the sole discretion of the Area Coordinator.
7. Up to 25% of the goods offered for sale may originate from off-farm sources. These are limited to: educational materials, accessories, and tools directly related to the animals and animal products the participating farm has produced.
8. Goods offered for sale may not be imported, unless there are no domestically produced equivalents. To the extent possible, goods should be manufactured from natural materials. 9. Food products sold in the Animal Products Area must meet the CGCF Food Area guidelines. Demonstrators wishing to sell food at the Fair must submit CGCF food ingredient forms with their applications.
10. The CGCF will devote no more than 10% of the total number of booths to any single product. Any current imbalance will be adjusted through attrition.
11. Insurance coverage of at least $300,000 is mandatory for all animals at the CGCF. Vendors must submit proof of insurance to the CGCF office. A photocopy of the insurance policy is acceptable. Demonstrators must own the animals they display.
12. Applicants may not apply to exhibit breeding jacks, stallions, bulls or studs. Such breeding male animals are not permitted on the fairgrounds.
13. The Animal Products and/or Livestock Area Coordinators must approve all proposed animal exhibits, rides, demonstrations and activities.
14. Commercial booths with animals on site receive stipends in the form of booth fee reductions.
15. In light of increasing ecological concerns involving genetic engineering, agriculture, and the environment, the CGCF strongly encourages Animal Products vendors to raise their animals on grain free of geniticallymodified organisms (GMOs).
16. Animal feeds/grains of any kind for sale at the Fair must be certified organic, or made with certified organic ingredients.
At the Fair
1 The CGCF provides tent and outside spaces for Animal Products exhibitors. Animal exhibitors should bring their own gates and fences if necessary. The CGCF does provide potable water and electricity, but does not provide tables, chairs or outside cover.
2. State veterinarians and Fair officials have the right to examine all animals on the fairgrounds for disease at any time, regardless of whether the owner or attendant is present. Animals must have appropriate health certificates, including proof of rabies vaccination, available for inspection by Fair officials.
3. The CGCF will not tolerate interference with any inspector, judge, or CGCF or State official when these persons are carrying out their duties.
4. Participants exhibit animals and property at their own risk. Neither the CGCF nor MOFGA will be responsible for any loss or damage from any cause.
5. An Animal Products Area Exhibitor, who has livestock at part of her/his display, may leave the fairgrounds with her/his animals beginning at 5 pm on Sunday afternoon. Participants must exit through the gate designated by the Fair Safety Crew.
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)
Common Ground Country Fair
PO Box 170
Unity, ME 04988
Phone: 207-568-4142
Fax: 207-568-4141
Email: cgcf@mofga.org