When preparing for conference judging, members should think about responding to these questions:

• • Tell me about yourself!

  • How long have you been in this project area?

  • Why did you decide to make this item?

  • How did you go about doing it?

  • Why did you select these materials to use in making your project?

  • What did you set out to learn?

  • What did you learn in the project?

  • What special help did you get?

  • What did you find hardest to do in making your project? 

  • What problems did you face?

  • What would you do differently if you could do it again? 

  • What are you most proud of?

 4-H’ers should also think about asking the judge some questions! Consider something like:

• • What strengths do you notice about this project?

  • What else are you wondering about?

  • For this challenge, I tried X,Y, Z. What else do you think I could have tried?

  • If you consider this project for the State Fair, what kinds of things should I think about adding or changing?

In 4-H projects, are judged by evaluating TWO AREAS, the skills and knowledge learned through project work, and to determine the quality and growth the 4‐H’er has achieved.

• Demonstration of knowledge & growth. 50% is determined by knowledge and growth in the project, such as demonstrating the ability to share goals and accomplishments made in the project and knowledge related to the project.

• Quality of project. 50% is determined by visually evaluating the quality of the exhibit, including general appearance, use of materials, evidence of learning, and guidelines followed. 

Check out the evaluation forms for your project area on the Extension 4-H Projects Website to learn more about what exactly a judge is looking for! Click on your project area and expand the Showing at the Fair section to find them.

Cloverbuds (youth in Grades K-2) are evaluated differently because their learning characteristics and developmental needs are different from older children and youth. The ribbon placing for Cloverbuds is based on participation only, and all youth receive a green ribbon. (Blue, red and white ribbons are not awarded.) Positive reinforcement and encouragement are as important as the child’s knowledge and exhibit. For more information, visit Minnesota 4-H Cloverbud Information Sheet 

First, it all starts with you, the 4-H’er! Pick a topic you really care about, want to learn more about, be challenged in, & share with others! Remember, projects are judged in two equal parts - half in the project itself & half in how you’re able to express your learning -- so be sure to spend just as much time preparing yourself as well as your project!

Then, you'll meet with a Judge. Then, at the County-level judging event, you’ll present to a caring adult, who is a content expert & youth advocate. They are eager to ask you many questions about what you did, what worked, what went wrong, what you’ll do differently next time, and how you grew from this experience. They’ll award the 4-H’er a ribbon based on the 4-H’er knowledge, growth, & project. A judge’s decision on your placing stands, and youth (not parents) are always welcome to ask questions about their decision in a calm & respectful manner.

Sometimes, 4-H Staff can get involved. 4-H Staff may also be included by the judge to help make a placing decision. Staff also have a finite number of State Fair trips to award each year, as well. Staff reserve the right at all times to delegate as many or as few of State Fair trips that are available.

Code of Conduct. Please always remember that these are learning & growth experiences, and you, your parents, your judge, club leader & staff represent Hennepin 4-H & our larger Minnesota 4-H community. 

Parents, though amazing supporters, are not involved in a child's judging process or placement decision. Parents and guardians are asked to observe their child’s judging from a distance. If a discussion arises about placing decisions, parents are invited to alert a 4-H staff to facilitate a conversation with the youth & judge. Parents do not have authority to address a judge’s decision.

Remember, when youth enroll or re-enroll as a Minnesota 4-H member, you agreed to accept and abide by the Minnesota 4-H Code of Conduct, which applies at all times at any 4-H event.

For youth  |  For parents  |  For volunteers

State Fair trips are awarded to 4-H’ers who:

• • Have completed 6th grade. (With several exceptions of State Dog Show, Share the Fun, Arts Alive, Engineering Design Challenge, & other non-overnight experiences). 

  • Have met the required deadlines of 4-H enrollment, project registration in FairEntry, & livestock requirements.

  • Demonstrated a top-quality exhibit & have received at least a blue ribbon. 

At the end of a judging event, all judges will create a State Fair line-up, which ranks blue ribbon projects eligible for the State-level event. The judge will award the appropriate number of trips (per state guidelines) to the top winners and select alternates. If a primary trip earner declines the trip, the first alternate will have the option to take a trip, if an additional person declines the trip, the second alternate will be eligible, and so on and so forth until all trips are filled. 

The Minnesota 4-H State Fair Administration designates the number of State Fair trips in each project area for each County's 4-H program. Trip numbers are calculated based on project enrollment in 4HOnline, as well as County enrollment size.  In total, Hennepin 4-H usually has over 110 State Fair Trips available! Consider entering more than one project, especially in underrepresented project areas, which increases your chances and expands your learning!

Per Minnesota 4-H Policies, State-Fair-qualified 4-H’ers may participate in State Fair activities in the following ways:

• Dual Trip Policy - 1 Livestock Project  &/or 1 General Project

• And any or all* of Share the Fun, Demonstrations, Arts Alive (Arts-in), Cooking events, animal science education exhibits, judging teams

*Please note that participation in two or more activities may not always be possible due to schedule conflicts of judging times, which rarely can be re-negotiated. Please review the schedule in the State Fair packet prior to accepting your State Fair trip(s).