The name and county of each exhibitor should appear separately on the back of each board, poster or article and on the front cover of the notebooks. One exhibit per class unless otherwise noted. Several classes require a display board which should be a height of 24” and not exceed 1/4" in thickness. A height of 23 7/8" is acceptable to allow for the saw kerf (width) if two 24” boards are cut from one end of a 4'x8' sheet of plywood. Nothing should be mounted within 3/4" of the top or bottom of the board. Fabricated board such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for display boards. Display boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a display board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit. Display boards should include an overall title for the display, plus other necessary labeling. All reports should be computer generated, enclosed in a clear, plastic cover, and attached securely to the display. Reports should be written using the scientific method whenever possible (background, the question or hypothesis, what you plan to do and what you did, method used and observations, results, what you learned).
Posters can be any size up to 28”x22” when ready for display. Tri-fold poster boards exceed 28”x22” when open for display, so are not accepted.
One exhibit per class unless otherwise noted. Rockets must be supported substantially to protect the rocket from breakage. Rockets are to be mounted on a 3/4" thick base that has dimensions equal to or less than 12"x12". No metal bases. If the rocket fins extend beyond the edges of the required base (12”x12”), then construct a base that is large enough to protect the fins. The base size is dictated by the size of the rocket fins. The rockets must be mounted vertically. Please do not attach sideboards or backdrops to the display. A used engine or length of dowel pin is to be glued and/or screwed into the board and extended up into the rocket’s engine mount to give added stability. Rockets must be equipped as prepared for launching, with wadding and parachute or other recovery system. Rockets entered with live engines, wrong base size or sideboards will be disqualified. A report, protected in a clear plastic cover, must include: 1) rocket specification (include original or photo of manufacturer packaging stating rocket skill level), 2) a flight record for each launching (weather, distance, flight height), 3) number of launchings, 4) flight pictures, 5) safety (how did you choose your launch site? Document safe launch, preparations and precautions), 6) objectives learned and 7) conclusions. The flight record should describe engine used, what the rocket did in flight and recovery success. Points will not be deducted for launching, flight or recovery failures described. This includes any damage that may show on the rocket. Complete factory assembled rockets will not be accepted. Judging is based upon display appearance, rocket appearance, workmanship, design or capabilities for flight, number of times launched and report. Three launches are required to earn the maximum launch points given on the score sheets. Misfires will not count as one of the required three launches. Scoresheets can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4haerospace.
For self-designed rockets only, please include digital recorded copy of one flight. In the documentation, please include a description of stability testing before the rocket was flown. Skill level is determined by the level listed on the manufacturer’s packaging. 4-H Rocket project levels are not intended to correspond to National Association of Rocketry model rocket difficulty ratings or levels.
High power rockets (HPR) are similar to model rocketry with differences that include the propulsion power and weight increase of the model. They use motors in ranges over “G” power and/or weigh more than laws and regulations allow for unrestricted model rockets. These rockets are not appropriate for 4-H projects and will be disqualified.
Aerospace/Rockets
H850001 - Any Skill Level Rocket with wooden fins and cardboard body tubes painted by hand or air brush.
H850002 – Aerospace Display poster or display board that exemplifies one of the principles learned in the Lift Off Project. Examples include: display of rocket parts and purpose; explaining the parts of a NASA rocket or shuttle; interview of someone in the aerospace field, or kite terminology. Display can be any size up to 28”x22”. Include notebook containing terminology (definition), and what was learned.
H850003 - Any Skill Level Rocket with wooden fins and cardboard body tubes painted using commercial application (example commercial spray paint).
Self-Designed Rocket
H850004 – Self-Designed Rocket with wooden fins and cardboard body tubes.
Drones
H850005 – Drone Poster Exhibit must be designed to educate yourself and others on one or more of the following topics: drone technologies, uses of drones, the different types of drones, types of training needed to operate drones and the laws and regulation users must follow. Posters can be any size up to 28” x 22”.
H850006 – Drone Video Exhibit must demonstrate how the drone interacts with the outside world. Examples include field scouting, surveying damage from natural disasters, drones used in commercial applications and settings, drones used for structural engineering. Video should not exceed 5 minutes. Videos should be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors must provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. Exhibitors are encouraged to test their codes or links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.