Terms and Conditions for The 2017 Energy Fair

A. Once a registration form has been submitted, at least a 50% non-refundable deposit must be submitted within 10 days. If paying by check, please postmark your check within 10 days of registration. Failure to pay or postmark within ten days will result in the cancellation of your registration.

B. Cancellations: Vendors must notify Energy Fair management in writing by March 15, 2017 (Custer event) and by June 15, 2017 (St. Paul event) in order to receive a 50% refund. All cancellations received after will not receive a refund. Those who register after the date listed respectively for each event will have 10 business days after they receive their confirmation to cancel and still receive a 50% refund. No exceptions will be made.

C. No refunds will be given to no-show food vendors.

D. It is mutually understood and agreed that any changes to the terms of this contract are not valid unless they are made in writing and signed by both parties.

E. Food vendors must keep their exhibit space neat and clean, taking every precaution against possible injury to visitors, guests, or employees.

F. NO pets are allowed anywhere on the parking areas, fairgrounds, or campground. Fair management has the right to contact the Portage County animal control office to have animals removed from any area of The Energy Fair. St Paul regulations are TBD.

G. All food vendors will be required to keep their booths open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday. Food vendors may sell until 7:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For the Minnesota Fair, this is from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. If Energy Fair management notices any vendor has left before these times, this food vendor may not be invited to setup at future Energy Fairs.

H. Food vendors must have at least one person at their space at all times while The Fair is open to the public.

I. Food vendors must be confined to the assigned space and in NO case may extend to any other part of the grounds.

J. Each food vendor is responsible for the clean up of his or her exhibit area. If this is not done, clean up charges will be imposed.

K. All packaging material used to ship your products will have a designated storage area at the fairgrounds so that you can re-use the packaging material when shipping back your product. Please utilize this option. The location of this area will be provided at a later date. Please label all packaging that you wish to reclaim. Packaging that is not labeled is available for all food vendors to use. If your packaging material is not salvageable after shipment is received at The Energy Fair, please take this material to the recycling/garbage/cardboard area.

L. Sharing food vendor space with another company is not permitted, violators will be asked to leave the fairgrounds.

M. If a food vendor is setup in the wrong space, he or she agrees to move to the correct location at his or her own expense and without protest. Further, he or she agrees to pay any contracted parties for the transfer of any installed equipment or tent, unless the contractor failed to follow his or her instructions.

N. Sound devices are subject to approval of the MREA and if allowed, must be controlled so as not to interfere with other food vendors, exhibitors, or workshops. The privilege for use of such sound devices may be revoked at any time by fair management. The Energy Fair does not allow food vendors to run engines or make noise in their spaces that will interfere with other areas of The Energy Fair.

O. Neither the MREA nor any officers, board members and/or staff members will be responsible for the safety of the property of food vendors from theft, damages by fire, water, storm, vandalism, or other causes, but will take responsible precautions to protect the food vendors from such loss.

P. If liability or property damage insurance is desired, the food vendor should obtain it. MREA strongly recommends that, in addition to other insurance, food vendors obtain public liability insurance to protect against possible claims arising out of the food vending space and The Energy Fair.

Q. Halogen lighting usage for food vendors is not permitted at The Energy Fair.

R. Plastic bags may NOT be given out as promotional items.

S. Smoking is prohibited in exhibits, vending spaces, workshop tents, and buildings.

T. Food vendors may not park in The Energy Fair parking area near the Entrance Gate unless a handicapped window tag is displayed in the vehicle; there is designated public parking area for all food vendor vehicles. Food vendors that do not follow this requirement may run the risk of having their vehicle towed to the appropriate parking area. This rule is non-negotiable. Minnesota Fair parking is TBD.

U. The decision of the MREA Executive Director or his representative(s), in their official capacities, must be accepted as final in any disagreement.

V. The MREA reserves the right to refuse, stop, relocate, or remove from The Energy Fair any food vendor or their representative and/or vending space, performing any act or practice which, in the opinion of MREA, is illegal, objectionable, interferes with the performance of other exhibitors/vendors, creates a health, safety, or fire hazard, or violates any rules stated herein.

W. All food vendors are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and according to the rules of this agreement. Any unruly conduct, refusal to follow rules, or use of foul language to Energy Fair patrons or personnel will be considered grounds for expulsion from the event. Such food vendors will not be invited to return to subsequent holdings of this event.

X. The MREA provides an opportunity for both food vendors and the public to benefit from the purpose of The Energy Fair. It is our policy to protect the environment and respect all participants in this event. We must insist that food vendors provide the same protection for the environment and respect for all participants including fellow food vendors. MREA retains the right to remove any food vendor and his or her vending space from the event if the food vendor does not comply with all written rules and regulations as stated above.

Y. Food vendors shall comply with those laws, rules and regulations and codes of the state of Wisconsin, Portage County, and of the MREA.