To compete in national 4-H contests 4-H youth must first qualify at a State Qualifying Event. Participants who qualify for national competitions will receive additional information from the State 4-H office.

Qualifying team members can decide if they will attend a national competition. Both team members and coaches should be aware of the following guidelines.

Roles & Responsibilities for staff, coaches, chaperones and youth for National Contests (PDF)

Guidelines from National 4-H Headquarters for Multi-state Competititve Events (PDF)

To compete in national 4-H contests 4-H youth must first qualify at a State Qualifying Event. Participants who qualify for national competitions will receive additional information from the State 4-H office.

Livestock Judging 

California 4-H State Livestock Judging Rules (docx)

UC Davis Field Day - The top three teams in the Senior 4-H division will qualify to participate in a national 4-H competition. 

Contest Date: March 7, 2026

Livestock Skillathon

California Youth Ag Expo (CYAE) - The top 4 youth in the 14-18 year old category will be eligible to qualify for the National 4-H Livestock Skillathon. Contest Date: July 30, 2026

Dairy Cattle Judging

California State 4-H Dairy Contest Rules (PDF)

The top four 4-H youth in the Senior age division will qualify for the National 4-H Dairy Judging Contest. Contest Date: TBA

Poultry Judging 

UC Davis Field Day 

California State Poultry Judging Rules (PDF)

Avian Bowl

New for 2025 - contest will be held at the 4-H State Field Day

Senior 4-H team members can qualify for the 4-H National Poultry and Egg Conference. Team only contest. 

Contest Date: May 23, 2026

• Contest Rules & Guidelines

Plant Science/Horticulture

The 4-H State Plant Science Contest at CA 4-H State Field Day is the qualifying state contest for the National Junior Horticulture Association.

Fashion Revue

State Fashion Revue at Calif. 4-H State Field Day is the qualifying state contest for the National 4-H Fashion Revue, held at the 4-H Family and Consumer Science National Championship and Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

California 4-H is represented at the following national competitions. Participation in national competitions requires pre-qualifying at a state competition.

Livestock Judging & Livestock Skillathon

Contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu

• North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) (Louisville, KY)

• American Royal (Kansas City, MO) 

• Western National Roundup (Denver, CO)

Dairy Cattle Judging

Contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu

National 4-H Dairy Judging competition at the World Dairy Expo (Madison, WI). The World Dairy Expo is the international dairy meeting place, a five-day event showcasing the finest in dairy genetics and the newest technologies available to the dairy industry.

Poultry Judging & Avian Bowl

Contact Erica Pettey at eapettey@ucanr.edu

4-H National Poultry and Egg Conference (Louisville, KY)

Plant Science/Horticulture

National Junior Horticulture Association contest in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Fashion Revue

Contact Stephanie Barrett at slbarrett@ucanr.edu

National 4-H Fashion Revue, held at the 4-H Family and Consumer Science National Championship and Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

4-H Shooting Sports

Contact Russell Hill at rdhill@ucanr.edu or Nathaniel Caeton at nwcaeton@ucanr.edu

National 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship, Grand Island, NE