NELE Fiber Arts Rules 2011

Fiber Arts Area Rules

Thank you everyone who participated in 2010!!

Location.

The alpaca area is located in the pulling ring on the Windsor Fair Grounds in Windsor, Maine and is part of the Northeast Livestock Expo

Breeds.

Vendors representing both alpaca (Huacaya and Suri) and llama

Purpose.

The purpose of the fiber area is to allow farms an additional venue to sell their animals and fiber products to the public. Demonstrations and exhibitions will draw people to your booths. The more the public is educated in regards to your livestock and your farm, the more they are willing to purchase and endorse your products.

Sign up.

Please complete the fiber area application form and return to Cindy Kilgore. We have limited space. Applications will be taken in the order they are received.

Sale of Livestock.

You are encouraged to bring alpacas to the event and to pen them in your booth in the alpaca area. These animals can be for exhibition, demonstration or sale. Some farms will participate in an Alpaca Pen Sale. Alpacas will be for sale by private treaty. Please see Alpaca Show/Sale Form for entry into the sale. You are encouraged to bring your sales list to discuss options with interested parties.

Vendor Products.

The products sold at your booth must be alpaca fiber-related. This would include such items as raw fiber, roving, or yarn and fiber products such as alpaca apparel, blankets, rugs, felted items or felting kits, and fiber crafts. No food is allowed for sale in the fiber area as there are commercial food vendors on the grounds.

Health Regulations.

All livestock from outside the State of Maine must comply with the Maine health requirements. Please contact Melissa Freeman at the Department of Agriculture. Email: Melissa Freeman Telephone: (207) 287-3701

Biosecurity.

If you are bringing livestock for the fiber area, it is expected you will bring your own panels, bedding, feed and other equipment. It is recommended that pens be placed to allow no intermingling or contact between animals of different farms.

Entrances will be arranged so that alpacas will have their own entrance to the pulling ring and other livestock will not be travelling through the alpaca area. Please be aware the public may try to pat your animals – and that they have likely been in contact with other livestock. If you do not wish your animals patted, please place signage. You are welcome to provide additional biosecurity measures at your booth.

All of your animals should be properly vaccinated and we recommend that you allow period of quarantine when animals are taken home.

Check In.

There is no specific time allowed for check in. The assistant Maine State Veterinarian will be on the grounds and will be viewing all livestock for contagious diseases.

Hours of Operation.

The expectation is for the fiber area to be open to the public from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. This should allow you set up / take down time for your livestock displays. If you wish to stay open additional hours, please feel free.

Insurance.

All vendors are required to show proof of liability insurance of at least $300,000.

Deadlines.

If you wish to be listed in the NELE Catalog, the deadline for entries is April 1, 2010. We will continue to accept entries after that date if space is available.