General Exhibits

How do I tag entries?

Attach an identification label to each entry with the following information:

Name

School & Teacher

Grade

Entry Class

4-H Age Division

How are entries judged?

  1. First, all entries are grouped by type and then by age division.

  2. An entry is judged individually on its own merit.

  3. Each entry will be awarded a blue, red, white, or participation ribbon.

  4. From all blue ribbon entries in a category and age division, a Best of Show is selected. Best of Show entries earn a purple rosette.

  5. 4-H Division Ages Included

Cloverbud 5-7

Junior 8-10

Intermediate 11-13

Senior 14-18

  1. Entries not following rules or guidelines will not be judged.

  2. Premium money is awarded for each blue, red, and/or white ribbon entry.

Art

  • Entries can include woodworking, paintings, drawings, sculpture, and weaving.

  • No tracing allowed.

  • Judging criteria: creativity, design, and neatness.

  • 1 entry

Crafts

  • Entries can include wreaths, ceramics, holiday ornaments, kits, and paper art.

  • Judging criteria: creativity, technique, and neatness.

  • 1 entry


Photography

  • Prints must be submitted for entry.

  • Entries may be in color or black and white.

  • Maximum size for a single photo is 8”x10”.

  • All photos must be mounted on a mat, poster board, construction paper, or foam core.

  • The overall maximum size of a mounted photograph shouldn’t be over 12”x14”.

  • No frames allowed.

  • Selfies may also be included.

  • Judging criteria: sharpness, contrast, exposure, creativity, and color.

  • 2 entries per youth

Posters

  • Use ½ sheet of posterboard 14”x22” either horizontally or vertically.

  • Entry should have a title.

  • Entry should educate viewers about a topic of your choice.

  • Crayon, markers, paint, stickers, photographs, magazine cutouts, etc can be used.

  • Judging criteria: title, topic easily understood, educational message, creativity, and neatness.

  • 1 entry per youth

Models

  • Kits – can include LEGO, Kynex, or other commercially produced items.

  • Physical – a handcrafted representation of an object like a building, mountain, landscape, watershed, etc.

  • Judging criteria: neatness, creativity, complexity.

  • 1 entry per youth

Needlework & Sewing

  • Needlework entries can include needlepoint, knitting, embroidery, crochet, hook rugs, and cross stitch.

  • Needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch – back of work should be neat with no loose threads.

  • Knitting, crocheting – even stitches, appropriate yarn weight and gauge, clean.

  • Hook rugs – loops should go in the same direction, tight threads of the same length, finished edges.

  • Needlework judging criteria: neatness, cleanliness, pressed, finished edges, and uniform stitches.

  • Sewing entries can include clothing, house wares, quilting, purses, and totes.

  • Stitches should be the same size, no loose threads, and have binding.

  • Sewing judging criteria: fabric selection, appropriate sewing techniques, neatness, and creativity.

Baked Goods

  • No mixes allowed.

  • Baked goods may include the following: Yeast Breads (1 loaf), Quick Breads (1 loaf), Machine Bread (1 loaf), Pies (whole), Cookies (6), Cake (whole), Muffins/Biscuits/ Rolls (6), Candy/Confections (6).

  • Entire cake or pie must be entered.

  • All baked goods become property of the Youth Fair.

  • Rosette winning baked goods will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the Washington County Youth Fair for premium monies.

  • Submit entries on a disposable plate or cardboard w/ see-through wrap. (Do not submit entries in lidded containers)

  • NO CREAM CHEESE unless it is BAKED into the recipe.

  • NO RAW EGGS OR MERINGUES allowed (must be cooked into recipe).

  • With the exception of candy, items must be cooked or baked and must contain flour.

  • Entry must include the RECIPE neatly written or typed on a 5X8 card. (Put entry information on back of the card & on bottom of container.)

  • Judging Criteria: External…..30 Internal…..30 Flavor…..30


Cake Decorating

  • Entries may include 1 of each: cake, 6 cupcakes, and 6 cookies.

  • Mixes and pre-made frosting are allowed.

  • No cream cheese frosting.

  • Items must be cooked and contain flour. No raw eggs or meringue allowed.

  • Submit entries on a disposable plate, on cardboard, or in a pastry box with see-through wrap.

  • Judging criteria: Appearance…10 Creativity…10 Neatness…10

Canned Goods

  • Entries can include vegetables, jellies, preserves, fruit, pickles, relishes, and meats.

  • Entries must be one year old or less and canned following USDA Canning Guidelines.

  • All cans must be processed and sealed in clean, standard, canning jars with two-piece lids.

  • Jellies and preserves must be in jars made for that specific purpose.

  • Judging criteria:

Pack Container…10 Fullness…20 Uniformity…20

Product Proportion…20 Clarity…15 Color…15

  • Head space at top of jar

Vegetables…1 inch

Jellies…1/4 inch

Preserves…1/4 inch

Pickles/Relishes…1/2 inch

Poultry…1/4 inch

Meat…1 inch

Horticulture

  • Entries can include house plants, potted plants, succulents, and dish gardens.

  • Dish gardens must have at least three different plant varieties.

  • Youth must care for the entry at least 90 days before the fair.

  • Label the plant with at least the common name.

  • Judging criteria: clean, free of disease/insects, well-groomed, no dead leaves, and a clean, suitable container.