One of the highlights of the year for 4-H members is being able to exhibit their completed projects at the Adams County Fair, and then hopefully have their exhibits selected for the Nebraska State Fair competition!
When is the fair? The Adams County Fair is held during the month of July. As part of the fair, members have an opportunity to compete in a variety of small and large animal shows, miscellaneous contests, as well as entering static exhibits. Many contests, such as Shooting Sports, Entomology, Horticulture & Tree ID, Fashion Show, and more, occur before County Fair.
Who can enter the fair? Any youth (4-H age 5-18) enrolled in 4-H by June 15th of the current year can participate in the fair. The Nebraska Extension in Adams County Office will make the Fair Book available in May. The Fair Book lists all the 4-H classes that can be entered. For the most part, the classes do not change a lot from year to year, so you can look at previous fair books to get ideas for project exhibits to enter in the fair.
How do we enter exhibits in the fair?
Pre-Fair Entry: Adams County does Online entries. Information and a link is sent out to families when the website is live for pre-fair entry. This is usally in May.
Static Exhibits: A static exhibit is any exhibit that isn’t alive (doesn’t breathe and/or walk). Pre-entry is not required but encouraged. The process for entering a static exhibit in the fair is simple. By June 15, each 4-H member can fill out an online entry. 4-Hers will use class descriptions that are found in the Adams County Fair Book, 4-Hers will select which exhibits they are planning to enter in the fair and give description to help locate an item if tag gets separated from the exhibit. Exhibit cards (called Entry Tags) will be printed and available the week prior to fair for pick up at the Fashion Show or Fair Clean up or may be picked up at fair check–in. Entry dates and times will be listed on the fair schedule and in the newsletter. It is the responsibility of the 4-Her to bring their exhibits to the fairgrounds on entry day(s) at the posted times. The exhibitor can enter Static exhibits on Monday's Static Entry day till 10:00 AM with no penalty (they will just have to wait for tags to be entered in the system and printed).
Livestock Exhibits: The Nebraska Extension Office in Adams County require all project animals tagged/identified. It is your responsibility to properly ID your animals by the deadline and bring the ID sheets to the Extension Office (no faxed or emailed IDs will be accepted). Please watch for further information in the Adams County 4-H newsletter and check dates on the website. All Livestock exhibits are required to be pre-entered online by June 15th. Animals or their Exhibits added after the deadlines will incur a penality in order to compete at the Adams County Fair.
How are exhibits judged?
Static Exhibits: All static exhibits are judged earning a purple, blue, red or white ribbon. Clover Kid entries are non-competitive and are not judged; each entry receives a Clover Kid ribbon. Youth receive a fair premium based upon the color of ribbon earned. At the conclusion of the fair, 4-H members can pick up their exhibits in the Exhibit Hall at the scheduled times listed in the fair book or Newsletter. Their premium checks will be mailed out Sept 15th.
Livestock Exhibits: All livestock exhibits are judged earning a purple, blue, red or white ribbon. Additional trophies and awards may be presented at the time of the livestock show. Animals must be entered and stalled at the fairgrounds for the duration of fair (see fair book for specific requirements) and can be taken home at the scheduled times listed in the fair book. Their premium checks will be mailed out Sept 15th.
When are exhibits released? Exhibit release times will be posted and announced in the newsletter and on the fair calendar. Early release is not allowed.