General Information:
- Submit poem entry by email or deliver to the Extension Office 1 week prior to event. Include participant Name(s) and 4-H age(s), title and complete poem (typed).
- Poems can be original, but don’t have to be.
- Poems do not have to rhyme.
- Poems may be traditional verse, acrostics, blank verse, cinquains, diamond poems, limerick or Haiku.
- A group does not need to have members from the same club.
- Independents can be part of a group.
- Groups can have 2-4 members and members can be of different ages. For poem length, follow rules listed for age class of oldest group member.
- Appropriate dress is expected. 4-H dress code as described in the Resource Book is always appropriate; remember the 4-H dress code does NOT include faded jeans with holes and dirty tennis shoes. The goal is to look your best! Interpretive dress is also appropriate; that is, for example if doing a humorous or period poem wear items that would fit the period or would add “fun” to the poem, if presenting a serious poem dress would be more subdued.
Division 992 – Poetry Contest
C992001 Senior Recital – 14 years of age or older, January 1. Poem: minimum 5 lines; maximum 28 lines. Will recite poem from memory. Note cards may not be used. May have prompting from judge’s helper.
C992002 Intermediate Recital – 11, 12, and 13 years of age, January 1. Poem minimum 5 lines; maximum 25 lines. Will recite poem. May refer to note cards.
C992003 Junior Recital – 9, and 10 years of age, January 1. Poem: minimum 3 lines; maximum 20; May read entire poem. Encouraged to recite poem.
C992004 Novice Recital – 8 years of age, January 1. Poem: minimum 3 lines; maximum 20; May read entire poem. Encouraged to recite poem.
C92005 Group Recital – minimum 7 lines; maximum 35 lines. No one person in the group may recite more than half of all lines.