The Source - Show Rules

 - Exhibitors 21 years old and younger on July 1 the year of the Summer Showdown are eligible to exhibit

- The Source management will handle all affairs of events

- Entries shall be submitted on official The Source entry forms, and must be accompanied by a copy of the animal’s registration certificate

- The Source management reserves the right to accept or reject any entry or applicant

- All registered Texas Longhorns, that meet the age and other requirements set forth by The Source, are eligible to participate. 

- Management will inspect the registration certificate or copy of said certificate for each animal entered. All animals will be subject to positive identification upon arrival and throughout the duration of the event.

- Any exhibitor may show any age animal, so long as they can adequately handle the animal.

- Stalling assignments will be assigned by event management. Transit cattle must be approved by show management before being allowed to unload.

- Stalling areas are to be kept clean of trash and animal waste. Aisles are to be kept clean and tidy, and free of shavings, waste, or other debris.

- All animals entered in the event shall stay on event grounds until released by show management

- Exhibitors must display their entry number using a number clip. No harnesses allowed. 

- Exhibitors must wear long sleeve shirt or blouse, with a collar and cuffs, and pants or skirt with boots while exhibiting cattle in the show ring. Western hats may been worn. Baseball caps, short sleeves, and tennis style shoes are strictly prohibited. 

- The Source management reserves the right to weigh all entries, or animals in any selected divisions.

- The Source management reserves the right to physically examine all animals entered into any The Source event. Cattle may be subject to mouthing by a licensed veterinarian for age verification.

- A current health certificate (federally approved form) issued by a licensed veterinarian must be made available for all entered animals to The Source management or state or local animal health officials. 

- Animals 120 days of age and older on show day are eligible for exhibition.

- Nursing calves 205 days or less may show at side, on halter, with their dam.

- Event management reserves the right, and responsibility, to remove any unmanageable animals from the exhibition arena. The ring steward is responsible for the movement and placements of animals in the show ring. Any exhibitor and/or animal disrupting the movement or placement of animals in the show ring or animals deemed uncontrollable which could endanger other exhibitors and/or animals shall be dismissed at the discretion of the ring steward. Ring steward decisions are final and not questionable. All entry fees are forfeited for animals removed from competition by The Source management or ring steward.

- All bulls will be shown with nose ring and nose lead. 

- The presentation of a signed entry form by the owner and/or exhibitor constitutes acceptance of all rules and regulations pertaining to a The Source event. In the event the owner and/or exhibitor fails to sign an entry form, the first entry into the show ring of an animal entered by the owner and/or exhibitor shall constitute acceptance of all the rules and regulations pertaining to a The Source event.

- Any false representation, interference, or unmannerly conduct on the part of any owner and/or exhibitor will be dealt with by The Source management according to the equities of the case. - Unauthorized physical inspection of other owner and/or exhibitors cattle is strictly forbidden.

- The Source management reserves the right to settle all questions and disputes arising at a The Source event. All owners and/or exhibitors as a condition of admission give unqualified consent to The Source management to settle such questions and disputes and agree in advance to be bound by The Source management decisions.

- Protest:Protests, other than those regarding age and/or parentage, must be submitted in writing to The Source management along with a $500 cash deposit. Protest must be received a minimum of two hours before published show time or within two hours after the culmination of the show. The Source management will review the protest and act accordingly. If the decision is in the favor of the protester, action will be taken, and the deposit will be refunded. If the decision is against the protester, the protester forfeits the deposit to The Source.

Protest for parentage and/or age:

(A) Protest submission: Age and/or parentage protests must be submitted, in writing, in a sealed envelope to The Source, 5705 Springtide Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76135.

(B) Protest definition: A protest is a written statement of fact, not opinion, of a violation of the rules and/or regulations concerning parentage and/or age in a The Source event, complete with supporting evidence. At a minimum, the protest will include the name of the animal involved, the owner of the animal involved, the protest grievance, any relevant background, other substantiating parties and references and the signature of the individual initiating the protest.

(C) A $500 deposit must accompany all submitted protests. The deposit will be held by The Source until disposition of the protest. Prior to any investigation, The Source management and The Source protest committee will review the protest. If it is not deemed to be an acceptable protest, the deposit will be returned to the protester. If the protest committee accepts the protest, there will be an investigation.

If, after investigation, the protest is upheld by the committee, the deposit will be returned to the protester. If, after investigation, the protest is denied by the committee, the deposit will be retained by The Source.

(D) Protest reviews: It is the intent of The Source that all protested animals are not considered in violation based solely on having a protest filed against it. The burden of proof will be with the person initiating the protest. However, the Protest Committee investigation may implicate others who are party to the rules violations, as well as against the owner of the animal being protested. In such cases, those other persons may be subject to sanctions imposed by the Protest Committee.

Sanctions: When Protests are upheld, the Protest Committee will impose sanctions against the breeder, the fitter or the owner. These sanctions will include barring the animal from showing for life on the first offense and suspending the breeder, and/or fitter, and/or owner from showing in any The Source event for life on the second offense.

Sanctions impacting show placement: An animal may continue to participate in The Source events while a protest regarding age and/or parentage is being reviewed by the Protest Committee. Any prizes awarded during Protest Committee review will be withheld until a ruling by the Protest Committee. If after review the protest is denied the prizes awarded will be award. However, if the protest is upheld, any titles awarded to the animal will be vacated and any awards made on behalf of the animal will be returned by the owner to The Source. When an animal is disqualified the next ranking animals move up in position and awards if applicable will be awarded to the exhibitor of those animals.

The decisions of the Protest Committee are final and are not subject to appeal.