ARTICLE 3
GENERAL RULES

Section 1:
EFFECTIVE DATE
NEOLA’s original rules and regulations became effective July 1, 1999, and thereupon shall be followed by all members and sanctioned shows.

Section 2:
SHOW APPROVAL
Organizations or individuals wishing to host or sponsor a club lamb show sanctioned by NEOLA where exhibitor points are awarded must comply with NEOLA rules. Show approval does not carry over from year to year and must be obtained for each show annually.

Section 3:
BREEDS
NEOLA sanctioned shows must offer the following breeds with no minimum number: Hair Sheep, Southdown, Shropshire, Speckle Face, Dorset, Hampshire, Suffolk, Natural Color and Crossbred.

Section 4:
SUBSTITUTE SHOWMAN
A substitute showman is allowed only for 4-H and FFA activities that conflict with a NEOLA show or if the showman has a documented illness. A substitute showman must be a NEOLA member. Approval can only be given if the proper rules have been followed and the appropriate documentation has been provided to the NEOLA Board President or acting show official. A form can be found on the NEOLA website and is the responsibility of the exhibitor to secure, complete, and submit properly. The substitute exhibitor will not be awarded points for exhibiting another member’s animal. 4-H or FFA ACTIVITY: If a NEOLA member is unable to show because of a conflicting 4-H or FFA activity, the member must obtain written notice from the agent, teacher, or school official stating the nature of the absence. This written notification is to be emailed to the NEOLA Board President by 5 p.m. Central Standard Time by the Thursday preceding the show. Approval will be decided by the President. If the absence is approved by the President, the member will receive written notice via email by noon the Friday preceding the show. The member will be required to complete a Substitute Showman Form. The President’s approval and Substitute Showman Form need to be submitted at time of entry. The Substitute Showman Form will be available on the NEOLA website. ILLNESS: Medical documentation must be provided prior to entry. Notification of the illness or injury should be brought to the attention of the NEOLA President prior to show day. If the illness or injury occurs in a sudden manner immediately prior to show day or on show day, notice shall be given to the President or acting show official PRIOR to entry fee being paid. If no medical documentation is provided, the primary exhibitor of animal(s) will not be awarded points unless the primary exhibitor is physically in attendance. Substitute Showman Form must be presented PRIOR to entry fee being paid. The substitute exhibitor must be a NEOLA member and have a lamb entered in that show. Failure to notify President or acting show official prior to official class breaks will result in immediate dismissal of primary exhibitor’s animal(s) from the show. Illness or injury that occurs during the course of the show will need to be brought to the direct attention of the President or acting show official. Repeated use or excessive abuse of the illness or injury rule may subject the exhibitor to be complete disqualification from NEOLA participation or points accumulation.

Section 5:
GENERAL RULES
If another livestock show occurs on the same day as a NEOLA show, the NEOLA member WILL NOT be allowed to have another NEOLA member show his/her lambs in their absence. Showing Code of Ethics will be followed at NEOLA sanctioned shows. No inhumane treatment of animals will be tolerated. (Example: No physical abuse such as SLAPPING, HITTING or electrical instruments. No paint will be allowed. No surgical procedure or injection of any kind to alter the animal’s natural confirmation, contour, or appearance will be allowed.) Profanity, inappropriate language, hand gestures, body language, etc. are grounds for immediate dismissal from the showring and possible removal from NEOLA. Any exhibitor who has been banned from a state-level show will not be allowed to exhibit at a NEOLA show for the remainder of that show season. All ewe lambs must have an official scrapie ID tag or will not be allowed to show. This is a state mandated rule. ALL lambs MUST have an ear tag present during check in. Any animal that does not have a tag present will not be allowed to check in or show. The exhibitor is responsible for ensuring his or her animal has the proper tag identification and the tag is listed on the entry card PRIOR to checking in. Entry fees will be $20 per lamb. Entry fees for non-members shall be $50.00 per lamb. An exhibitor may show a maximum of three (3) lambs per show. Only two (2) lambs may be exhibited in any one breed by the NEOLA member. Age for rookie and showmanship will be age of exhibitor as of first show of the NEOLA show season. Exhibitors will remain in that age group for the remainder of the show season. This age needs to be properly reflected on the NEOLA Membership Form upon enrollment. To participate in the showmanship contest, the exhibitor must be a NEOLA member and have paid dues prior to the showmanship contest. NEOLA members MUST show their own lamb in the showmanship contest. Showmanship divisions are as follows: NOVICE (5-7), BEGINNER (ages 8-10), JUNIOR (ages 11-13), INTERMEDIATE (age 14-15), and SENIOR (ages 16-19). A NEOLA member must have lambs entered in four (4) of the six NEOLA shows to be eligible to receive an award at the conclusion of that show season.

Section 6:
RULE INTERPRETATION
President or acting show official reserves the right to final interpretation of all rules and regulations. President or acting show official reserves the right to call for a board vote during any show. ALL board members in attendance are REQUIRED to a verbal and/or visible vote. President or acting show official has the authority to stop a show for a maximum of 15 minutes to interpret rules. All decisions made within the 15 minutes are final for the duration of the show.

Section 7:
ANNUAL BOARD MEETING
All acting board members are EXPECTED to attend annual board meeting. Acting board members, excluding the points administrator(s), are REQUIRED to attend a minimum 2 of 4 designated show locations. Board members are to assist President or acting show official in duties as needed. Duties include, but are not limited to, show registration, weighing of animals, class breaks, ring help, class lineup, and show conclusion. President may remove any board member who cannot meet these requirements.