N.J. Stat. tit. 4, ch. 15

in effect

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-1 "Association" defined

"Association" as used in this article shall include all corporations organized for the purpose of holding agricultural fairs and exhibitions.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-2 Authority to hold fairs and exhibitions

An association may: a. Hold fairs and exhibitions of agricultural, horticultural, mechanical and manufacturing productions, collections and discoveries of works of art, of live stock and animals, and for the encouragement of competition in the breeding of stock and the development of speed and other qualities in animals; b. Provide and maintain grounds, buildings, road tracks, walks and other improvements necessary or desirable for the proper display of exhibits; c. Encourage competition by the offer and payment of premiums and awards for stock and articles of a superior kind, class or quality; and d. Ask and receive reasonable fees for the admittance of exhibitors and visitors.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-3 Police jurisdiction of directors

For the purpose of maintaining order and preserving the peace and decorum upon grounds on which a fair and exhibition is held by an association the directors shall: a. Have police jurisdiction upon the grounds and for a distance of one-quarter of a mile from the boundaries of the grounds; b. Suppress the sale of intoxicating liquors by persons not regularly licensed by the public authorities; and c. Prohibit every species of gambling and breach of the peace or laws of this state.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-4 Appointment and qualification of special officers

The directors of an association, or a majority of them, may appoint from time to time, as many fit persons as they may deem proper, as special police officers. Each such officer, before entering upon his duties, shall take and subscribe an oath that he will well and truly serve the State, and will perform all his duties to the best of his knowledge and ability. The oath shall be filed forthwith in the office of the county clerk who shall indorse thereon the date of filing and shall be paid the sum of twenty cents ($0.20) for each oath so filed. Amended by L.1953, c. 5, p. 40, s. 40.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-5 Powers and duties of special officers

Special officers so appointed and sworn shall possess, so long as the directors choose to retain them, the powers and authority, on the grounds and within the limits fixed in section 4:15-3 of this title, vested in constables in criminal cases in this state. They may, without process, arrest all persons there found who shall: a. Violate any of the laws of this state; b. Conduct themselves in a disorderly manner; c. Disturb or wrongfully interfere with the fair and exhibition or the exhibitors or visitors; or d. Violate any of the rules or regulations of the association. Any person so arrested shall be taken, as soon as conveniently may be, before a magistrate of the county in which the fair and exhibition is held, there to be dealt with according to law.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-6 § 4:15-6

The owner of any stud farm used for the breeding of fancy trotting or racing stock in this state may hold upon such farm, as often as he may deem proper, fairs or exhibitions for the development of speed or other desired qualities, and, to encourage competition, may offer premiums and rewards for stock exhibited and for superiority in the objects sought for, and ask, demand and receive, for his own use, reasonable fees for admittance.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-7 § 4:15-7

For the purpose of preserving good order, peace and decorum upon and about farms or exhibition grounds and among the visitors and spectators to the same, the owner shall have police jurisdiction within the boundaries of any of such grounds. The owner shall not sell or permit the sale upon his grounds of any vinous, spirituous or malt liquors, or gamble or permit gambling in any form whatever upon the grounds.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-8 § 4:15-8

The owner of a stud farm who shall hold a fair or exhibition as provided in this article, may appoint from time to time, one or more fit persons as special police officers, each of whom, before entering upon his duties, shall qualify as provided in section 4:15-4 of this title relative to special officers appointed thereunder.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-9 Powers and duties of special officers

Persons appointed and sworn as provided in section 4:15-8 of this title shall possess the authority and powers on the stud farm and exhibition grounds, and on the lands and premises adjacent thereto, within the limits named in section 4:15-7 of this title, which constables possess in criminal cases in this state. They may, without process, arrest all persons there found who shall: a. Violate any of the laws of this state; b. Conduct themselves in a disorderly or immoral manner; c. Disturb or wrongfully interfere with the meetings and exhibitions or visitors thereto; d. Violate any of the rules and regulations of the owner which are plainly printed and posted in a conspicuous manner about the farm and exhibition grounds. The persons so arrested shall be taken, as soon as conveniently may be, before a magistrate of the county, there to be dealt with according to law.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-10 Maintenance and use

The state house commission is authorized to maintain the state exhibition building which was erected as provided in the act entitled "An act to provide for the erection and maintenance of a state exhibition building for the display and exhibit of the educational features, and the institutional, agricultural and horticultural products of the state, and making an appropriation therefor," approved March tenth, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-one (L.1921, c. 40, p. 67). Such building and the land on which it is situated shall be held in the name of the state by the state house commission or its successors in office and shall be used for the purposes enumerated in the title of said act.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-11 One-day livestock shows; rules and regulations

The Department of Agriculture shall encourage and promote education and interest in the production of pure-bred livestock. In order to demonstrate the characteristics of individual breeds, including ideal conformation and production qualities, and to assist in the selection of outstanding animals of each breed for the purpose of exhibition in national competition, and to encourage the State's livestock industry, one-day livestock shows may be authorized by the department, to be held under the auspices of the State pure-bred livestock associations. Any such show shall be conducted in conformity with the rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture relating to disease control and the awarding of premiums, prizes and trophies. L.1953, c. 302, p. 1843, s. 1.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-12 Advisory committee

The State Board of Agriculture may appoint an advisory committee of one person from each branch of the livestock industry to further this type of agricultural endeavor. L.1953, c. 302, p. 1843, s. 2.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-13 Moneys for premiums, awards and maintenance

The department may include in its annual budget request an item not in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) for the purposes of this act. Any moneys appropriated for these purposes shall be expended only for premiums, awards and maintenance of the associations' one-day shows. L.1953, c. 302, p. 1843, s. 3.

N.J. Stat. § 4:15-14 Dog sled racing

An organization created for the purpose of promoting the breeding, care, and training of dogs to draw sleds, carts, or wheel rigs, including the International Sled Dog Racing Association and its affiliates in this State, or other similar association which has been in existence for at least five years and which has been classified as a nonprofit corporation and certified as exempt from the payment of federal income tax by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury may conduct or sponsor dog sled races or exhibitions of dog sled racing, carting, weight pull, and freight racing skill with dogs specifically bred and trained for that purpose, in conjunction with the owners thereof. The proper care, humane treatment, and protection of a dog participating in a dog sled race, freight race, weight pull, or carting exhibition shall be the responsibility of its owner and all dog sled races, freight race, weight pull, or carting exhibitions shall be conducted in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of chapter 22 of Title 4 of the Revised Statutes. L. 1985, c. 433, s. 2, eff. Jan. 13, 1986.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-activity/statutesFetched: 10/17/2026