Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 10/08/2025
Last Updated: 10/08/2025

The Steele County Agricultural Society, doing business as Steele County Free Fair (“we,” “us,” or “our”), is committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect information obtained through our website [www.scff.org] (the “Site”).

We comply with applicable U.S. federal and Minnesota state privacy laws, including but not limited to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the CAN-SPAM Act, and applicable consumer protection regulations. By using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

We may collect personal information you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Full name
• Email address
• Mailing address
• Phone number
• Payment information (e.g., credit card or electronic payment details)
• Event registration details (e.g., exhibitors, vendors, volunteers, sponsorships)
• Any other information you submit via forms, registrations, donations, or purchases.
   

When you visit our Site, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate geolocation
• Browser type, operating system, and device information
• Date and time of visit
• Pages visited, links clicked, and time spent on pages
• Referring/exit URLs and search queries.
   

We collect this information using cookies, web beacons, pixels, log files, and similar tracking technologies.

We use the information collected for legitimate business purposes, including to:

• Operate, maintain, and improve our Site and services
• Respond to your inquiries, process registrations, or fulfill transactions
• Provide customer service and support
• Send newsletters, event announcements, or promotional materials (with your consent)
• Manage sponsorships, advertising, or vendor relationships
• Monitor Site performance and user engagement
• Detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent or illegal activities
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.
   

We will not use your personal information for materially different, unrelated, or incompatible purposes without providing notice and obtaining consent when required.

Where applicable, we may process personal information under the following legal bases:

• Your consent
• Performance of a contract (e.g., event registration or vendor agreement)
• Compliance with legal obligations
• Legitimate interests, such as improving Site functionality and security.
   

We use first-party and third-party cookies to:

• Personalize content and improve user experience
• Analyze traffic and usage patterns
• Enable essential website functionality (e.g., ticketing, donations, or registration portals)
• Remember your preferences and login sessions.
   

Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You may choose to:

• Accept all cookies
• Be notified when cookies are set
• Block or delete cookies.

Blocking cookies may limit the functionality of our Site.

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. We may share information only in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers & Contractors: We may share data with trusted third-party vendors (e.g., payment processors, email services, hosting providers, analytics platforms) who help operate our Site or provide fair-related services.
• Event Partners: With sponsors, vendors, or partners when necessary to coordinate participation in fair events or activities.
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes.
• Business Operations: To protect the rights, property, or safety of the Steele County Agricultural Society, our users, or the public.
   

All third parties are required to handle personal information in compliance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.

Our Site may contain links to external websites, social media platforms, or embedded content operated by third parties. We are not responsible for their privacy practices or content. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third parties before interacting with their services.

We may use third-party tools such as:

• Google Analytics (website traffic and usage insights)
• Stripe / PayPal (payment processing)
• Meta / Facebook (event promotion and engagement)
   

These providers may collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies.

We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Measures may include:

• Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption
• Restricted access to personal information
• Regular monitoring for vulnerabilities
• Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant vendors.
   

While we strive to protect your data, no transmission over the internet or storage system is 100% secure. You provide information at your own risk.

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or as required by law, including:

• Transaction records (for tax and accounting compliance)
• Registration and vendor information (for operational purposes)
• Contact information (for communication, unless you opt out).
   

When information is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years old. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected information from a child, we will take immediate steps to delete it. Parents or guardians may contact us to review or request deletion of their child’s information.

Depending on applicable laws, you may have the right to:

• Access and receive a copy of your personal information
• Correct inaccuracies or update your information
• Request deletion of your personal data
• Opt out of marketing and promotional communications
• Restrict or object to certain processing activities.
   

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [steelecountyfreefair@scff.org]. We may verify your identity before processing your request.

You may receive communications from us regarding fair events, sponsorship opportunities, and updates. You can opt out at any time by:

• Clicking the “unsubscribe” link in any marketing email
• Contacting us directly at [steelecountyfreefair@scff.org].
   

Please note that we may still send transactional or administrative messages that are not promotional in nature.

Although we operate in the United States, some service providers may process information outside of Minnesota or the U.S. We take steps to ensure appropriate safeguards are in place when transferring data internationally, in compliance with applicable law.

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Updates will be posted on this page with the “Last Updated” date revised accordingly. Significant changes will be communicated through a prominent notice on our Site. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us:

Steele County Free Fair
1525 S. Cedar Ave
Owatonna, MN 55060
Email: steelecountyfreefair@scff.org
Phone: (507) 451-5305
Website: www.scff.org