covid-19 plan


​In response to COVID-19, a number of changes have been made to the planned operation of the show.
  1. As suggested by the Minnesota Department of Health, any participant/ spectator will be asked to follow the guidelines set forth for safe gathering, which include, but are not limited to, social distancing of 6 or more feet, hand washing and sanitizing (our goal is to provide washing stations at two or more locations in or near the barn entrances and exits & hand sanitizer at each exhibitor’s table), masks are suggested in indoor, enclosed areas.
  2. The most critical and important requests that the show committee has for exhibitors and spectators are:                    If you are or have been ill, please stay home.                                                                                                                            If anyone in your party has been ill or you have been in contact with anyone who has been ill, please stay home.    If you are immune compromised or have any doubt about attending the show, please stay home. 
  3. In addition to the registration, any individual attending the show will need to sign a waiver stating they are aware of the risks associated with attending the show, and that they will hold the NCHCA, its volunteers and employees harmless in the event of any illness or injury, including COVID 19. This will be necessary for every judge, volunteer, exhibitor, family member or friend attending the show. 
  4. In order to reduce the numbers at the show, we will not be widely advertising, including not posting signs or banners at the fairgrounds. Our intention is to limit outside spectators and thus additional contact. 
  5. Upon arrival at the fairgrounds, we are asking all exhibitors to come in the same entrance to register, sign waivers & pick up packets before entering the barn area. Signs and arrows will clearly show you how to enter the premises. Tack and Prep areas will be divided by straw bales in order to separate exhibitors and their supplies. 
  6. The show will be much the same as previous years. The bleacher style seating will be marked to encourage social distancing for spectators. For exhibitors and cattle, we will be allowing additional time and reducing the class sizes so that we can minimize the number of people and cattle in the waiting areas and show ring. We will set up a flow map for show day to help make it move smoothly. 
  7. Meals will be different this year. We will not have any meals in the St Olaf building at all. Instead, The Lunchbox, a local lunch truck will be supplying all of the food for the event. The truck will be on premises Friday night for supper, Saturday for breakfast and Saturday for lunch. Tables and seating available will be available outdoors that are distanced appropriately. In the event of rain, we will make arrangements for a covered area. Additionally, we will not hold an awards banquet this year, but instead have an awards ceremony after the show’s conclusion. We would encourage exhibitors to attend the ceremony to show support for your fellow breeders.  We would like to encourage exhibitors to eat out in smaller groups in the Austin area. We will supply some suggestions for restaurants in the area at the show. 

The show committee will continue to monitor state guidelines for events and will modify plans accordingly.  In the event that the show is cancelled due to the pandemic, entry fees will be refunded.