General Regulations

Regardless of category entered, the following regulations apply:

• No living vertebrates (i.e. fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals) may be brought to county, district, or state level events.

• Demonstrations or illustrated talks must be between 3-12 minutes for juniors and intermediates, and 5-12 minutes for seniors.

• A team demonstration is one in which two team members participate both in speaking and presentation. No more than two members per team.

• State entries must have competed at the county/district levels. Participation guidelines for county/district level activities that do not culminate at the state level are at the discretion of planning committees at the county/district.

• Each presentation (i.e. demonstration, illustrated talk, Share-the-Fun activity, speech, etc.) will be the same from district level to state level. A 4-H’er should definitely improve on his/her activity but it must remain basically the same.

• If a 4-H’er is participating at the state level with a similar illustrated talk or demonstration to the previous year, the demonstration or illustrated talk must be changed to include more depth and growth.

• Participants must provide all equipment and supplies for their presentations.

• Competitors are responsible for all aspects of their preparations and set-up of their competitions. Only competitors are allowed in the set-up/dressing room at State Competitions.

• In demonstration categories where one entry is needed to be recognized as the official state entry for a regional/national competition, the judges will be asked to select the overall entry from the 1st place individual and 1st place team, provided this meets respective national guidelines.

Awards

•  Blue, Red, and White awards will be awarded based on quality of performance.

• Senior (4-H age 14-18) County Blue Ribbon winners will advance to state competitive events.

General Regulations

• Speech must be original and specifically related to 4-H in a demonstratable way. The entire speech does not necessarily have to feature 4-H, but every contestant must, at some point in his/her speech, mention 4-H and its relationship to the material being presented. Contestants who break this rule will be subject to penalization by the judges.

• Speech must have been specifically prepared for, as part of, the 4-H Public Speaking Contest.

• All speeches must be given without the use of props, posters, or visual aids.

• All requirements set forth in general regulations for participation in the Florida 4-H University must be satisfied for senior participants at the state level.

• Speeches by senior 4-H’ers should be no less than 5 and no more than 7 minutes in length.

• Speeches by junior and intermediate 4-H’ers should be no less than 3 and no more than 7 minutes in length.

• Contestants whose speeches ignore the outlined time specifications and reference to 4-H will be subject to penalization as outlined on the score sheet.

• Previous first place 4-H Public Speaking Contest winners at state competition are not eligible to compete in this event.

• Participants may refine their speeches between district and state competition, but the content should not change dramatically.

• Individual participation only, no team speeches will be allowed.

  Awards    

• Blue, Red, and White awards will be awarded based on quality of performance. First, second, and third place will be awarded to the highest scoring individuals.

• First Place Senior will move on to 4-H University.

General Regulations

•   All photos exhibited must have been taken by 4-H members within the current 4-H year.

• Pixel size: Photos should be at least 800 pixels by 1000 pixels and saved as a JPEG.

  • The ideal 8×10 quality is 2400 pixels by 3000 pixels, which is the same as an 8×10 photo at 300 dpi (resolution). Any higher variations of the 8×10 ratio are allowed. If photos have a different pixel ratio you may still submit. However the photos will be judged using the 8×10 pixel dimensions. Which may cause your photo to appear stretched, compressed, or distorted. If you view a photo’s properties on your computer, it will tell you the width and height in pixels

• Alterations of photo: Although slight computer enhanced photos are allowed, such as crop, trimming, adjusting lighting, and red eye reduction; substantially altered photography, such as changing colors or applying design styles, using computer graphics will disqualify an entry.

• Model Release Statement: Recognizable pictures of any adult or youth under the age of 18 must include a “Model release” signature. If a minor is in the photo, the signature MUST come from their parent or guardian.

• Refusal Rights: The Florida 4-H Youth Development Program reserves the right to refuse inappropriate or unsuitable entries. Photograph must NOT be offensive, degrading, racists, or contain pornography of any form.

Categories

·       People

·       Animals

·       Black and White

·       Scenic

·       Plants/Flora

·       Still Life

·       Architectural Elements (Buildings)

·       Hat Tricks and Magic (ie floating apple)

·       4-H Theme

Additional Requirements

In addition to the submission of the photo, all uploads will need the following submission details:

• Photos must be submitted electronically to the 2023 County Events Drop Box by Wednesday, March 29th at 11:59 pm.

• Entries must be titled as: Last Name, First Name_County_Age Division_Photo Class.

  • Example: Clover, John_Green_ Lee County_Intermediate_Still Life

• All submissions must be accompanied by a completed photo release

IMPORTANT- Only photos that include completed release forms may be judged.

Awards

Junior, Intermediate, and Senior entries are judged separately. Blue, red, and white award is given to each entry. One 1st place blue in each category, and each age division is awarded (e.g. 1st place Junior People, 1st place Intermediate People, & 1st place Senior People”. A top overall junior entry, intermediate entry, and senior entry will be selected (Total=3). These three entries can advance to state competition. They may be exhibited at the district level or other venues, but not required.

General Regulations 

County Level:

• Each contestant will furnish his/her own charcoal grill, protein of choice, barbecue sauce, charcoal, lighter fluid, and other necessary equipment. Electric or gas heated grills may not be used in this contest. A white plate for judge presentation will be provided.

• Protein Updates: No turkey allowed and ½ chickens NOT REQUIRED. Each contestant will provide enough fresh, uncooked, animal protein for two 6-8 ounces of cooked portions for the judges’ palatability evaluations, chicken included. The only eligible seafood item is headless, deveined, fresh shrimp. Pork, beef, chicken and shrimp can be marinated prior to the contest. Sauces and marinades may be commercial or personal recipe. 

• Overview 1 hour prior to 14” Weber grills being started- Contestants must have their uncooked proteins and cooler temperatures checked at registration. Each contestant will fill out their contestant card and a carbon copy will be taped to the plate/container to which they turn in for palatability judging. Uncooked proteins must be covered at all times and maintained at ≤ 40°F. Temperature abuse will result in point deductions. Contestants with temperature abused proteins (≥ 50°F) will not be allowed to compete. Personal clothing should be clean and neat and not present a safety concern (no loose-fitting clothing or open toed shoes). 

• 30 minutes prior to grills being started- Contestants will prepare their tables, fires, and proteins without assistance from other 4-Hers or adults. Due to fire safety concerns, contestants will not be allowed to use tablecloths or have loose leaf paper on display. Other fire safety concerns can be addressed by the contest coordinator. Contestants can use a laptop/iPad /poster & easel to complement their table top display to describe their recipe. 

• The fire and food safety judges will ask students’ questions about their recipe and safety knowledge after all contestants have been observed. The contestants should expect questions relative to their table display, proper use of a meat thermometer and the tailgate curriculum series addressing firebuilding, meat selection, cooking safety, cooking equipment, and smoking and slow cooking meat. 

•  Contestants will be required to turn products in at specified time windows Grilling time: Seafood- 45 min- 1 hour 15 min, Pork 1 hour - 1 hour 30 min; Beef 1 hour 15 min- 1 hour 45 min, Poultry 1 hour 30 min- 2 hour after grills being started, respectively. . Products turned in outside of those windows will be deducted 10 points. 

• Beef, pork, and seafood products must be cooked to at least 145°F, ground products to at least 160°F and poultry products must reach 165°F. 

• No additional items (drink, garnish, vegetables, etc.) should be submitted.

•  Judges will be instructed to independently score all components of the products turned in for palatability assessment (i.e. skin, dark, and white meat). If present, bacon will be removed prior to consuming product 

To the left is the Regional and State Rules, We are using these with some adaptations. Please read and familiarize yourself with both! 

Score Card

The score sheet to the left will be the score sheet used to judge all youth. Main scoring concepts include:

• Pre-cooking registration

• Observation of fire and food safety protocols

• Questions of food safety and product quality

• Eating and visual desirability 

Awards

·       Judges will award all contestants 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each age division (junior, intermediate, and senior).

·       The Intermediate and Senior 1st place winners will be eligible to compete in the District BBQ contest under their respective divisions. Once all spots are filled, we will then open it up to other contestants who participated at county events. 

Contest Rules

·       This is an individual event. Entries must be completed by exhibitor, and only one entry per youth participant.

·       The entry must be saved as a pdf file, with the exemption of the PowerPoint entries. All files should be saved as follows: Last Name, First Name_ County_ Age division_Class (ex: Clover,Johnny_Lake County_Senior_ Brochure)

·       Graphics become the property of Florida 4-H upon entry and may be used for promotional purposed by Florida 4-H.

·       No hand drawn entries will be accepted.

·       The entries will be judged on: Font style and graphics, flow of design, color, educational components, and clear delivery of message.

·       Use of copyrighted or protected characters or logos is prohibited. Use of the 4-H Emblem: Use of the 4-H Emblem must be in accordance to the graphic standards set by the USDA. Those standards can be found at: http://florida4h.org/about1/files/nameandemblem.pdf

·       County 4-H agents can submit all blue ribbon entries to the state graphic design contest

Description of Categories

Description of Categories: Youth are allowed one entry in the Graphic Design competition. Entry should either focus on promotion of 4-H or a 4-H project.

Classes and Their Description

• Brochure: This is a tri-fold brochure that should contain information on both the front and the back. It should be easily read and printed with 8 ½ x 11.

• Flyer: This is an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper, that will promote your topic of choice.

• Other: Any other promotional material ex: mini-books, bookmarks, postcards, etc.

• PowerPoint Presentation: 5 – 10 slides and a script to accompany the presentation. For best presentation, include the script for each slide in the “notes” section of the PowerPoint.

Awards

·       Junior, Intermediate and Senior entries will be judged separately.

·       Blue, Red, and White quality awards will be given to entries based on the score sheet criteria. All decisions by the judges are final.

·       One Best of Show Award will be presented to one entry in each class for each age division (Junior, Intermediate and Senior).