FAQS

The Norman County Fair is mainly held in an outdoor area that has grass and gravel. Scooters and wheelchairs will have limited mobility in some areas of the grounds.

Individuals may not bring any alcoholic beverage on the fairgrounds at any time.

The Norman County Ag Society has adopted an alcohol policy that is designed to protect our Guests and our community. We ask our Guests to please drink responsibly.

Norman County Ag Society guests are expected to obey all state and local laws governing the purchase, possession and consumption of alcohol. It is illegal for anyone under the age of twenty one (21) years old to purchase, possess, or consumer alcoholic beverages.

In addition, the following items are to be noted:
All Guests who purchase, possess, or consume alcohol will be asked to show positive identification prior to being served. Allowable forms of I.D. must not be expired, must picture the individual it represents and must be readable in English. These would include: a drivers license issued by any U.S. state or Canadian province, an identification card issued by any U.S. state or Canadian province, punched drivers license, Government issued Passport, and valid Military I.D.

Guests under the age of 21, that are in possession of or observed consuming alcoholic beverages along with guests who pass off alcohol to a guest UNDER the age of 21, will be referred to the Norman County Sheriff Department for citation or arrest. Guests who purchase alcohol for anyone of age that does not meet our requirements will be escorted off of the grounds.

The Norman County Ag Society has the right to refuse service at any time. Alcohol sales can be terminated at the discretion of the Fair Board.

Mailing: PO Box 4, Ada, MN 56510
Physical: 503 West Thorpe Ave, Ada, MN 56510

An ATM is located on the East side of the Fair Office near the restrooms.

Animals or pets of any kind are prohibited, with the exception of service animals for Guests with disabilities and /or special needs.

The Norman County Ag Society will welcome service animals onto the premises and must remain on a leash or harness at all times.

All drones (Unmanned Aerial Systems) are prohibited at the Norman County Fairgrounds. Unauthorized drone(s) observed over the fairgrounds will be reported to the FAA and local law enforcement, regardless of its point of origin or operation. Drones may pose a potential safety risk and may violate Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.

You are welcome to bring your own camera to the grounds. Guests grant permission to the Norman County Ag Society to utilize their image or likeness in connection with any photograph, video or other recording means for transmission, broadcast or promotional use. You grant unrestricted license to use your image or likeness in photograph or video by the Norman County Fair and Ag Society and its respective agents.

The Norman County Ag Society is committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable entertainment experience. Guests have a right to expect an environment where:
* Guests will be treated in a consistent, professional and courteous manner by all personnel.
* Guests will enjoy every event free from disruptive behavior, including foul or abusive language, or obscene gestures.
* Guests will consume alcohol beverages in a responsible manner. Intervention with an intoxicated, impaired or underage guest will be handled in a prompt, safe and timely manner.
* Guests who engage in fighting, throwing objects or attempting to enter the track/stage will be immediately ejected from the Grounds.
* Guests will smoke in the designated area only
* There will not be any obscene or indecent messages on signs or clothing.
* Guests will comply with requests from NCF directors regarding facility operations and emergency response procedures.

Guests who violate the code of Conduct may be subject to arrest by the Norman County Sheriff Department. The Norman County Ag Society thank you for your cooperation.

The Norman County Fair offers a wide variety of food and beverage items for our guests' enjoyment.

2023 Norman County Fair --- June 21 - 24, 2023

All Guests in attendance are required to wear a shirt and shoes at all times for their safety. The Norman County Ag Society management reserves the right to eject guests wearing clothing items displaying offensive text and or/images.

The Norman County Fairboard works on a continuing basis with the Ada Fire Department, and other agencies in the development of specific Emergency Procedures Plans for each event. The NCAS recognizes that its goal is to provide a safe, enjoyable atmosphere.

In case of an emergency, Guests must comply with requests from board members regarding operations and emergency response procedures.

The Norman County Fair management assumes no responsibility for items left/ lost at events. All items recovered during an event are taken to the Fair Office located West of the grandstand. Please contact 218-784-4984, to inquire about lost items not recovered during the event. All remaining items will be donated to charity after 30 days.

All protesting, petitioning, and picketing is to be done on the east edge of the Norman County Fairgrounds. The parking lots and areas around the fairgrounds are not a traditional public forum and are not to be used for these kinds of activities.

The Norman County Fair has various locations available for rent throughout the year. Please refer to About Us/Facility Rental for more information

Restrooms are located on the East side of the Fair Office Building, immediately West of the Grandstand. Changing tables are located in all of the permanent restrooms. Additional portable facilities may be added for larger events located on the grounds.

General Amusement Ride Safety Tips
• Read posted rules thoroughly. Follow all height/age restrictions and verbal instructions
issued by ride operator's. Read and explain all posted rules to your child(ren) prior to
letting your child(ren) ride each ride. Emphasize the importance of following these rules.
• Keep all body parts (hands, arms, legs, long hair, etc.) inside ride at all times. If you
have long hair, put it up (if possible wear a hat or use a band of some sort).
• Always use the safety equipment provided (seat belt, shoulder harness, lap bar, chain,
etc.). If you believe the device is not properly positioned please revisit the situation with
your nearest ride operator.
• Hold onto handrails, when provided. They're part of the safety equipment designed to
keep you safely in place.
• Remain in the ride until it comes to a full and complete stop at the unloading point of the
ride. If a ride stops temporarily, due to mechanical failure or other reason, stay seated
and wait for the ride to start up again or for an operator to give your further instructions.
• Stop riding before you get excessively tired, to avoid injuries or illnesses.
• Never ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Don’t board a ride if you see broken parts, signs of improper maintenance, or an
inattentive operator, you also should listen to the ride (does it sound like a machine in
need of repair). You can learn a great deal about a ride and its condition from just
looking and listening. While most parks and carnivals pay close attention to ride safety,
there are unfortunate exceptions; just as in any industry. Follow your instincts; if
something about a ride seems suspicious, don't ride it.
• Drink plenty of water while visiting an amusement facility, especially on a hot day.
• Wear comfortable clothing and shoes when visiting an amusement facility.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Pay attention to walking surfaces (cracks, holes, elevations, missing grates, etc.) a
broken ankle or bone will also hinder a day.
• If you are a person of extreme size (height or weight) you should pay close attention to
all posted signs. If you have difficulty sitting in any seat properly then do not ride that ride
and/or device.
• Participate responsibly, you should be in good health to ride safely. You know your
physical conditions and limitations. If you suspect that your health could be at risk for
any reason, or you could aggravate a pre-existing condition of any kind by riding a ride
and/or device, DO NOT RIDE!
Child Safety Tips
• Be a cautious consumer when it comes to kiddie rides.
• Use sound judgment when selecting an amusement ride for your child to ride on.
• Do not put a child on a ride that they may be afraid of.
• Watch the ride with your child before boarding.
• Read warning signs aloud and together. Explain the information and ask your child to
explain the material back to you. Prior to riding the ride they should understand the
warnings fully.
• Point out the operator and the entrance/exit locations prior to riding.
• Explain that rides sometimes stop temporarily, but that riders must never get off until the
operator tells them to.
• Talk about what to do if your child gets frightened while the ride is moving. Tell your child
NOT to get out of their seat. Explain that amusement rides might seem scary, but as
long as you follow the rules and remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop at
the exit station they should not be in any danger.
• Tell children to hold on tightly with both hands to lap bars, handholds or any other item
designed specifically for hand placement.
• Always use the safety equipment provided, but be aware of its limitations.
• Ride manufacturers provide seatbelts, lap bars, and other safety equipment to reduce
the risk of injury. However, many safety devices used on children's amusement rides
aren't designed to keep young children in their seats. Lap bars on Ferris Wheels and lap
ropes on kiddie trains aren't considered restraints at all. They're designed as
psychological barriers, an incentive to stay seated.
• Solid metal lap bars found on some rides only fit closely against the largest passenger in
the car, often leaving children with room to slide around. If a lap bar doesn't fit closely, a
fast-moving ride can cause a child to slip completely out from underneath the
bar. Loose-fitting lap bars also allow young children to stand up on their own while a ride
is moving.
• Obey minimum height, age, and weight restrictions.
• Never sneak children onto rides that they are too small or too young for. Ride
manufacturers' restrictions take into account the forces exerted by the ride and
(sometimes) the intellectual maturity required to ride safely. A smaller/younger child may
not be physically or developmentally able to stay safely seated.
• Use the posted height and age limits as suggestions, not pass/fail criteria. Manufacturers
base their guidelines on developmental timelines and height/weight ratios of children in
the 50th percentile. Kids who are tall for their age may not be developmentally ready for
a particular ride. Kids who are more impulsive than average need closer parental
supervision.
• Don't put your children on a rides that they have outgrown. Maximum height and weight
limits are just as important as minimum limits.
• If you can’t count on your child to stay seated with hands and feet inside, don’t let them
ride.
• Watch all extremities; including feet if the ride has open sides.
• Excited children often stick hands, arms, feet or even their heads out the sides of
amusement rides. Load children to the inside, away from open doorways, or on the side
closest to the ride operator (Some rides have very specific rider requirements, follow
these requirements as necessary).
• Pay special attention as the ride slows to a stop. Children who are in a rush to be the
first one off, or in a hurry to get to the next ride, may try to exit while the ride is still
moving.
• Parents are much more likely to ride along with their small children at parks which
include unlimited rides in the admission price. Carnivals and family entertainment
centers usually charge a fee for each ride. The ride owner/operator decides whether to
charge parents who accompany their children. In cases where parents don't physically
take up a seat, they're often allowed on for free, but not always. Regardless of the ride
owner's policy, cost should not determine whether you ride along. Your children are
priceless, and it's your job to keep them safe.
• Adults aren't allowed to ride on some kiddie rides.
• Some kiddie rides are so small that weight limitations restrict parents from riding. Again,
that doesn't mean the hazards have been eliminated.
• Don't let kids supervise kids on amusement rides.
• Talk with your children before they visit amusement parks or carnivals.
• Discuss the different kinds of rides: roller coasters, spinning rides, Ferris wheels,
etc. Talk about the motion of each ride, and what might happen if riders don't follow the
safety rules.
• Explain why it's important to obey height and weight limits, both maximums and
minimums. Children who are younger or smaller than the posted limit might slip out of
the restraints. Children who are older or bigger might overload the ride.
• If your children are going off with a group of children, talk about group issues. What
should your children do if one of the kids they are with starts fooling around on a
ride? What if one child doesn't want to go on a ride and the others start teasing or
pressuring him?
• Ask questions to get your child thinking about the consequences of foolish
behavior. What could happen if you unhooked your seatbelt on a roller coaster? What
could happen if you stuck your foot out when the car was approaching the
platform? What could happen if you try to jump out before the ride stops?
• Explain that playing games on amusement rides can also hurt other riders.
• Talk with your children about drug and alcohol use. You should never ride an
amusement ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Persons with Disabilities
• Amusement facilities are making strides in addressing the needs of riders with
disabilities, but it's not always possible to include everybody and also keep the masses
safe. The forces exerted by some amusement rides and/or devices can be dangerous to
a rider who cannot maintain the posture required for that ride and/or device.
• Upon entering an amusement facility, a guest with a disability should visit an information
desk and request any information regarding access to the facilities rides and/or devices.
Most amusement facilities will provide you with a guide of the physical requirements
required to safely ride an amusement ride and/or device at there facility.
• Many rides at an amusement facility are of a dynamic nature. Guests with disabilities
should refer to an amusement facilities safety guide available at an information desk.
• Participate responsibly. You should be in good health to ride safely. You know your
physical abilities. If you suspect that your health could be at risk for any reason, or you
could aggravate a pre-existing condition of any kind by riding a ride and/or device, DO
NOT RIDE!
This information was taken from ExpertSafety.com

Norman County Fairgrounds is a non-smoking venue with the exception of designated smoking areas.

Guests, including law enforcement personnel not present in official capacity, are prohibited from bringing weapons onto the Fairgrounds. The Norman County Ag Society does not provide weapon lockers. Weapons may NOT be checked in at the Fair Office. Weapons include, but are not limited to, the following: firearms, explosives, stun guns, handcuffs, brass knuckles, sticks, clubs, batons, martial arts instruments, pepper spray, tear gas, knives, etc. Guests found in possession with the above-mentioned items will be asked to remove the item/items from the grounds or dispose of it. Guests who refuse to comply will be ejected from the fairgrounds without a refund or compensation and may be subject to arrest by the Norman County Sheriff.