How to Run Your Fair with Showman

Planning and managing a fair takes months of preparation, countless moving pieces, and a team working together to create a successful event. From opening entries to judging and awarding premiums, every step matters. That's why Showman is designed to simplify the process, helping fairs stay organized, save time, and provide a better experience for exhibitors, superintendents, and administrators alike.

Whether you're preparing for your first year using Showman or looking to take advantage of new features, here are four tools that can help your fair run more efficiently this season.

Print Static Tags for Static Exhibit Entries

Static exhibits—from baking and photography to arts, crafts, horticulture, and more—often require exhibitors to attach entry cards that stay with each exhibit throughout judging and display.

With Static Tags, Showman makes this process simple by allowing you to print professional entry cards directly from the system. These printable tags are designed specifically for static exhibit departments, helping judges, superintendents, and volunteers easily identify entries while keeping everything organized.

Using Static Tags helps:

• Create consistent, easy-to-read entry cards
• Reduce handwritten paperwork
• Keep exhibits organized during judging and display
• Save time for fair staff and volunteers

Whether your fair has a handful of static exhibits or hundreds of entries across multiple departments, Static Tags help streamline check-in and improve organization from the start.

Delegate Responsibilities with Superintendent Access

Running a fair is a team effort, and administrators shouldn't have to manage every department on their own.

The Superintendent Access role allows you to give department superintendents access only to the areas they're responsible for—without providing full administrative permissions. This makes it easier to divide responsibilities while keeping your event secure and organized.

Depending on the permissions you assign, superintendents can:

• Manage entries within their department
• Review exhibitor information
• Assist with judging and placings
• Help keep their department running smoothly

Meanwhile, fair administrators maintain full control over the overall event and user permissions.

By empowering department leaders with the tools they need, your entire team can work more efficiently while reducing the workload on administrators.

Customize Ribbon Placings & Premiums

No two fairs are exactly alike. Ribbon colors, placing structures, and premium payouts often vary from one event to another, and your software should reflect those traditions.

With Customize Ribbon Placings & Premiums, Showman allows you to configure your awards to match your fair's specific rules and payout structure—no workarounds required.

You can customize:

• Ribbon placings
• Ribbon colors
• Premium amounts
• Award structure to match your fair's preferences

This flexibility ensures exhibitors see accurate results while helping your fair maintain the traditions and standards that make your event unique.

Simplify Your Livestock Auction with Showman

Keep your auction organized from start to finish with Showman Auctions. Easily generate your sale order program, record multiple buyers for each lot, accept online add-on purchases, and manage all of your auction information from a single dashboard. Available as a $399 add-on, Showman Auctions helps streamline your sale while keeping everything connected to your show management system. Contact Jason at Jason@showman.app to schedule a demo, get your auction set up, or learn more.