GOAL AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR
General Fair Guidelines General Guidelines for Demonstrators, Exhibitors and VendorsGoal: The Common Ground Country Fair (CGCF) serves to encourage the revival of agriculturally-based rural communities.
Objectives: The volunteers and staff of the CGCF work toward this goal by:
Help Us Make Common Ground A Clean Air EventThe Common Ground Country Fair encourages fairgoers to refrain from smoking while at the Fair. We want this to be a Clean Air event. Smoking is strictly prohibited in all buildings, barns, tents, restrooms (including port-a-potties), the amphitheater, the Food Area, the Children's Area, the wagon rides and the shuttle rides from and to South Parking Lot.Thank you for your cooperation. |
2. designing and coordinating an educational, smoothly operating, attractive, and enjoyable fair that serves as a major fundraiser for MOFGA.
3. promoting local, environmentally sound, and sustainable food production.
4. promoting organically grown Maine produce and good nutrition.
5. promoting a forum for alternatives in lifestyles.
6. coordinating agricultural activities and demonstrations with like-minded groups.
7. serving as a common ground for a wide variety of organizations and ethnic groups to explore shared values and possible areas for cooperation.
8. contributing to maintaining and improving the quality of rural life, particularly by creating an awareness of the human and physical resources in Maine.
9. actively encouraging fairgoer participation in CGCF activities.
10. having fun during all CGCF activities, while encouraging learning about, enthusiasm for, and enjoyment of our environment.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR
Each year, the Common Ground Country Fair (CGCF) takes place on the third weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) after Labor Day. The following guidelines apply to all people attending the Fair in any capacity.
1. The CGCF does not permit pets on the fairgrounds or in the Fair parking
areas. Animals tied to trees or cars, or left within vehicles (whether
locked or not), may be removed by the local animal control officer.
2. Smoking is prohibited in the following areas of the Fair: the Children's Area; the shuttle and wagon rides; the food preparation and service area; all buildings including barns and all tents.
3. Fair participants may not build fires without written permission from
the CGCF office.
4. The CGCF strictly enforces Maine laws prohibiting public drinking of
alcohol and use of illegal drugs on the fairgrounds and in the Fair parking
lots.
5. The CGCF prohibits from the fairgrounds audio and video devices audible
to the general public unless they are part of a CGCF-approved demonstration.
6. Fair participants may not feed livestock or other display animals unless
they are tending their own animals.
7. Fair participants may not litter.
8. Fair participants may not bring skateboards, bicycles or other
unauthorized wheeled vehicles on the fairgrounds.
9. The CGCF office assumes no liability for damage to or loss of personal
property.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL DEMONSTRATORS, EXHIBITORS AND VENDORS AT THE FAIR
Each Area of the Fair has specific guidelines. If you would like to participate in a certain aspect of the Fair, please contact the Fair office for detailed area guidelines. The following general guidelines apply to all demonstrators, exhibitors and vendors.Henceforth, the words "vendor" and "vendors" refer to "demonstrator(s)" and "exhibitor(s)" as well.
Guidelines for Application Process
1. A non-refundable $5.00 application fee must accompany each application
(with the exception of Crafts, Livestock and Youth Enterprise Zone
applications) for booth space at the Common Ground Country Fair (CGCF). The
Crafts application fee is $10.00. There is no application fee for the
Livestock Area or the Youth Enterprise Zone.
2. Area Coordinators determine application deadlines for respective areas.
The Crafts Area Coordinators do not accept applications postmarked after
their established deadline. Other Area Coordinators process timely
applications before late applications, allocating space first to timely
applicants. Late applicants receive left over space if available.
3. A $50.00 late fee must accompany late applications for areas other than
the Crafts Area. Area Coordinators may make exceptions to the late fee
guideline if the CGCF office does not mail out applications in a timely
manner.
4. The CGCF Steering Committee will not consider late applications which
are controversial or questionable under existing area guidelines.
5. Area Coordinators review vendor applications each year, and give
preference to vendors in good standing who meet respective area guidelines.
The "vendor in good standing" guideline does not apply to areas where
juries review applications for quality.
6. Failure to meet application and/or contract fee deadlines may result in
forfeiture of booth location and/or booth space.
7. Area Coordinators, in consultation with the Fair Steering Committee, may
refuse to accept any vendor who does not meet the Guidelines of MOFGA, the
CGCF, or the Area itself.
8. The CGCF office does not grant vendors exclusive rights to sell any
particular item. While the CGCF does not solicit duplication of sale items
or presentations, Area Coordinators occasionally allow it.
9. Vendors must reside in Maine, and represent Maine-based businesses or
organizations. The CGCF accepts goods and services not made in Maine if
they are important to the quality of rural living, and are not yet
available from a Maine-based business or organization.
10. Vendors must list on their application all items and services which
they wish to sell. Items and services listed on the application must relate
directly to the area to which the vendor applies. The CGCF will not permit
the sale of items not listed or approved on the applications. The CGCF
requires vendors to remove such items from booths immediately. The CGCF may
expel from the Fair vendors who fail to comply with, or repeatedly violate,
this guideline.
11. Area Coordinators give preference to applicants who make their products
with sustainably harvested, natural resources from Maine. When a product
made in Maine depends upon materials or components from elsewhere, its
approval will depend upon the need it fills, the value added by the Maine
worker who makes it, and the source of the materials or components.
Examples of products not made in Maine but acceptable if they contribute to
the quality of rural living are: books; farming and gardening tools; cotton
fabric; soil supplements; hardware; animal feeds; home heating units for
renewable energy sources; tractors, rototillers, and accessories. Examples
of unacceptable products not made in Maine are: those making no essential
contribution to the quality of rural living; those detracting from Maine's
becoming more self-sufficient; or those which exploit producers or
consumers.
12. Vendors may sell their own business T-shirts, but may not sell T-shirts
of other businesses or organizations. The CGCF restricts sales of other
promotional products.
13. Vendors may not share booth space. Each business or organization must
apply for booth space separately.
14. Vendors needing any amount of electricity must fill out electricity
request forms and return them to the CGCF office by the contract deadline.
Vendors needing electricity in excess of an amount designated by the CGCF
Electrical Coordinator must pay for it. Payment is due by the respective
area contract deadline.
15. Vendors wishing to be listed in the Fairbook Directory of Fair
Participants must fulfill contract or registration obligations by
respective area deadlines.
16. Applicants must answer all questions on their area application forms.
Area coordinators may ask applicants for clarification on questions
answered unclearly. Area coordinators reserve the right to reject
applicants who fail to provide requested clarification.
17. The CGCF does not accept applications from network or multi-level
marketing businesses.
Guidelines for Participation in the Fair
1. Vendors agree to make no misrepresentations, implicit or explicit, about the nature of their businesses, the nature of their products and services offered, or their ethnic and/or cultural backgrounds.2. All MOFGA-certified growers get a $10/day reduction in vendor booth fees for all areas of the CGCF.
3. All food served or sold at the CGCF must meet the Food Area guidelines.
4. The CGCF assigns booth spaces to vendors. Vendors may not change booth location or designated boundaries of any booth space. Vendors must place all supports within the boundaries of their assigned booth spaces.
5. Vendors must restrict their activities to their booth spaces. The CGCF prohibits hawking of wares.
6. Vendor contracts are for space only. The CGCF does not supply tables, chairs, etc... Vendors should prepare for dirt floors in tents and stalls.
7. Vendors assume all risk for their property. Neither the CGCF nor MOFGA will be responsible for any loss or damage from any cause.
8. The CGCF provides electricity to vendors who have requested and paid for it in their contractual agreements. Vendors must bring suitable cords and outlet strips to meet their needs. The CGCF encourages electricity conservation.
9. Water is available only in certain areas of the fairgrounds. Vendors needing water must contact their area coordinator to determine whether the CGCF can meet their needs.
10. Vendors may set up booths all day Thursday before the Fair weekend, or before 8:00 a.m. on Friday of the Fair. Vendors needing to set up before Thursday should make arrangements with their Area Coordinators.
11. The CGCF restricts vehicle movement on the fairgrounds. The CGCF prohibits vehicles from entering the fairgrounds after 8:00 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. All vehicles already on the fairgrounds must exit by 8:30 a.m. Vehicles may return to the fairgrounds at 9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, or when the Fair Safety Coordinator gives permission to do so.
12. Vendors must set up booths and be ready for business by 8:45 a.m. each day of the Fair.
13. Vendors must make their booths as attractive as possible. Vendors may not use plastics (clear, colored and poly-tarps) in the construction of booths. The only exception to this is rip-stop nylon. Preferred materials include canvas, denim, and cotton. Vendors may cover booths with plastic tarps at night, but must remove them by 8:00 a.m. daily.
14. To hang signs on tent posts, vendors may use only string or tape. The CGCF prohibits the use of tacks, nails, screws, staples or anything that penetrates wood. Only the Fairgrounds Supervisor may make exceptions to this guideline.
15. Vendors must obtain permission from the fairgrounds Supervisor before digging any holes. Vendors must fill in holes before leaving the fairgrounds.
16. Vendors should prepare for inclement weather. Vendors may cover puddles with planks. Vendors may not use hay or shavings to fill in puddles. The CGCF will assess violators with a $50.00 hay-or-shavings-removal fee.
17. Any vendor using cooking equipment must have a 40 BC-minimum fire extinguisher. Any vendor who serves food must have a 20 BC-minimum fire extinguisher. The CGCF encourages all vendors to obtain 40 BC-minimum extinguishers. The Fire Marshall requires that propane tanks be secured firmly on a hard, non-combustible surface, i.e. cement blocks, tin, etc... Vendors must supply their own surface on which to secure tanks -- the ground alone does not qualify. The Fire Marshall will check for compliance.
18. The CGCF provides a limited number of gate passes for vendors. Vendors in the Food Area receive one pass per frontage foot of booth space for the weekend. All other vendors receive a maximum of nine passes per booth for the weekend. Each pass is valid for one person for one day. The CGCF urges vendors to plan accordingly, and to request only as many passes as needed for people who staff booths. Vendors may purchase tickets in advance from the Fair office if needed. Ticket prices are $8.00 for adults, and $6.00 for senior citizens (ages 65 and over). Admission is free for children (ages 12 and under) and for MOFGA members.
19. Vendors must staff their booths for the duration of the Fair -- from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
20. Vendors should bring an adequate amount of food or merchandise to last through the entire Fair.
21. The CGCF prohibits raffles on the fairgrounds.
22. Volunteer tents and kitchen facilities are for use by CGCF volunteers only.
23. The CGCF prohibits vendor camping on the fairgrounds. Vendors who sleep in their booths must contact the Fair office to get permission forms. Vendors must attach the forms to the outside of their booths.
24. Vendors must break down cardboard boxes, tie them in bundles, and take them to the CGCF recycling area.
25. Vendors must separate all the trash they generate into compostable/non-compostable waste piles, and take the waste to the CGCF recycling area. Vendors must separate out plastic bags used to hold ice.
26. Vendors must take their entire booths -- including carpets, display racks, storage containers, and decorations -- home with them. All booths must be taken down by Monday night unless special arrangements have been made with the vendor's Area Coordinator.
27. The CGCF may dismiss any vendor failing to abide by the guidelines for booth set-up, staffing, and break-down.
28. The CGCF makes no refunds in the event of inclement weather.
29. The CGCF makes no refunds for cancellations made after August 1.
30. Vendors are responsible for reporting earnings and workers' pay to the IRS and the State of Maine. The State of Maine requires the CGCF to send a list of commercial vendors and their tax ID numbers to the state tax office. The CGCF does not disclose information about vendor earnings.
31. In the event of a dispute, the decision of the CGCF officials will be accepted as final.
32. MOFGA, doing business as the CGCF, disclaims any authority of control over the operation of vendors. Vendors assume all rights and responsibilities for the conduct of their operations including, but not limited to: obtaining liability and general coverage insurance for vendor-related activities; and adhering to all local and state ordinances and regulations. MOFGA does not have separate vendor coverage under any insurance it may maintain.
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