DEPARTMENT WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, BIRDS, FISHING, OUTDOOR ADVENTURES, AND GEOLOGY
Conservation, Wildlife, and Shooting Sports gives 4-H members an opportunity to share their knowledge and field experience about conservation, wildlife, and shooting sports. All exhibits must follow all respective state and national laws relating to conservation, wildlife and shooting sports.
GENERAL INFORMATION
A. SHOW WHAT YOU DID & LEARNED - All 4-H members must show evidence of their personal field experiences, study, or observations that relate to their exhibit. This helps judges understand what the 4-H member did and learned in the process that led to the exhibit.
B. PROPER CREDIT - Show proper credit by listing the sources of plans or other supporting information used in exhibits.
C. EXHIBITOR INFO - The 4-H member’s name, county, and age must be on the back or bottom of all displays.
D. WILDLIFE & WILDLIFE LAWS - "Animal" or "wildlife" in the following classes includes wild fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, or mammals. Domestic animal (i.e. domestic livestock or house pets) and insect exhibits are not appropriate for this area. 4-H members must comply with current state and federal laws. It is illegal to possess threatened, endangered, or protected wildlife, or the feathers, nests, or eggs of non-game birds. These items cannot be part of an exhibit. Game birds and game animals taken legally during an open season may be used.
E. Each individual may enter one exhibit per class and limited to a total of four (4) entries.
F. Related project booklets include Exploring Your Environment Series, 4-H Shooting Sports, Amphibians, Bird Behavior (EC 59381), Fishing for Adventure Project Manuals, Wildlife Conservation (4-H 125), Geology, and Outdoor Adventure. Other resources include: Outdoor Skills: Learning Science in the Outdoors series (Science Signature Outcome Program)
G. EXHIBIT SIZE GUIDELINES…BOARD AND POSTER EXHIBITS - Mount all board exhibits on 1/4" plywood, masonite, or similar panel no larger than 24" high by 24" wide. Poster exhibits should be on regular poster sheets, no larger than standard size (22" by 28") but half size (22" by 14") is recommended. ALL OTHER EXHIBITS - Exhibits other than poster/display board should not exceed 48” x 48” and be able to be moved by two people. Large exhibits (larger than listed above) must be suited and prepared for outdoor exhibition. If large exhibits are not suited for outdoor exhibition, youth have the option to create a poster or another suitable substitute for the exhibit, instead of exhibiting the project itself. Poster exhibits may be stapled in the corners for displaying purposes at the fair.
H. No firearms, ITEMS WITH A BLADE (broad heads, knives, saws, etc.) or related items of any other kind, may be exhibited. This applies to actual items, replicated items, and item parts. Photos are a suitable substitution for actual items.
I. 4-H entries must be made according to the printed 2026 Custer County Fair Premium Book and entered online by 5:00 p.m. on June 26. Instructions for online entries will be emailed to 4-H families on approximately May 15. Entries will be interview judged Wednesday, July 22 at the 4-H Exhibit Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ribbons P. B. R. W.
$2.50 $2.00 $1.50 $1.00
Wildlife and How They Live - Classes 1-4 are board or poster exhibits. Display may show any aspect of wildlife, wildlife habitat, or related conservation. No domestic livestock, pets, or insects allowed. For more ideas, refer to project booklets. Remember to look at exhibit guidelines above.
CLASS D340001 MAMMAL DISPLAY - Choose one mammal from the wild and share on your display about the mammal. Examples include life history, behavior, habitat or other interesting facts.
CLASS D340002 BIRD DISPLAY - Choose one bird from the wild and share on your display about the bird. Examples include life history, behavior, habitat or other interesting facts.
CLASS D340003 FISH DISPLAY - Choose one fish from the wild and share on your display about the fish. Examples include life history, behavior, habitat or other interesting facts.
CLASS D340004 REPTILE OR AMPHIBIAN DISPLAY -Choose one reptile or amphibian and share on your display about the reptile or amphibian. Examples include life history, behavior, habitat or other interesting facts.
CLASS D340005 WILDLIFE CONNECTIONS - Board or poster exhibit. The purpose of this display is to show interconnections and related aspects among animals, plants, and other habitat components. All displays should show two or more interactions (connections) that occur between/among animals or between animals and their habitat. Displays might show how animals interact with other animals, with people, or with their habitat.
Examples:
- Food chain display. Use pictures, drawings, or other items to illustrate the source of food energy and where it goes - who eats whom or what. Use arrows to show the direction of the energy (food) flow.
- Show the role of predators, scavengers, insect eaters, or others in nature.
- Show how wildlife numbers (populations) change through the year.
- Show predation, competition, or other behavior interactions of wildlife.
- Choose one kind of wildlife and make observations through a season or year, keep notes of interactions, then make a display of what you saw.
CLASS D340006 WILDLIFE TRACKS - Board or diorama-type box exhibit. Make a display of animal tracks using casting plaster. There are 3 options. For all options, include a brief description of your experiences in making the tracks so the judges better understand what you did and learned. Positive casts (impressions as they would be in nature) are preferred, but not required.
Option 1 should show plaster tracks of five or more kinds of wildlife along with a picture or illustration of each kind of animal.
OR
Option 2 should show two or more plaster tracks of one specific kind of wildlife and should include a picture or illustration of the animal, what the animal may eat, and what may eat the animal.
OR
Option 3 should show two tracks and include the animal’s habitat needs including preferred food, shelter, water, and space in addition to picture or illustration of the animal.
CLASS D340007 WILDLIFE KNOWLEDGE CHECK - Use electrical circuits, pictures, or other methods of teaching wildlife identification or other wildlife conservation or shooting sports related knowledge. Plan size and shape to fit transportation and display; maximum size 24” x 24.”
CLASS D340008 WILDLIFE DIORAMA - Exhibit must be no larger than 24" x 24". The exhibit might show a grassland, prairie, agricultural, woodland, riparian (stream or river corridor), wetland, and/or other area with wildlife habitat. Example: show an area interspersed with several habitats such as windbreaks, farm fields, woods, waste areas, ditches, and pastures for edge-adapted species such as White-tailed deer, Northern Bobwhite, Mourning Doves, Cottontail Rabbits, fox, squirrels, Northern Cardinals, or Bluejays. Label the habitats displayed and show at least five kinds of wildlife in their proper habitats. Remember to include supporting information about the wildlife and habitat that is on display.
CLASS D340009 WILDLIFE ESSAY - Learn how to share educational information by writing. Choose a conservation or wildlife topic that interests you and write an essay about it. For example, write about a particular species of wildlife that you have observed or about the values of wildlife. You might write about wildlife on a farm, in town, in a backyard, at a backyard feeder, or at other places. You might write about ethics, proper behavior in the outdoors, hunting, or fishing. The essay is between 100 and 1000 words long and typed, double spaced on 8½” x 11” paper. You might use books, magazines, or personal interviews as resources, but you must give credit to all sources by listing them.
CLASS D340010 WILDLIFE VALUES SCRAPBOOK - Make a scrapbook about a value of wildlife. Value could include aesthetic, scientific, commercial, game, genetic, and/or ecological topics.
CLASS D340011 WILDLIFE ARTS - The purpose of this class is to allow artistic exhibits that contain educational information about conservation and wildlife. Examples might include paintings, photographs, wood carvings, painted duck decoys, or songs or poems written by the 4-H member. Entries must be appropriate for fair display and no larger than 24" x 24". For example, paintings or photographs should be displayed in notebook format or mounted on a sturdy display panel. All entries must include a title and brief explanation of the purpose or message (what is the exhibit meant to show).
WILDLIFE HABITAT
CLASS D342001 HOUSES - Make a house for wildlife. Examples: bird house (bluebird, purple martin, wood duck, kestrel, barn owl, etc.) or bat house; no insect houses. Make the house functional so that dimensions, hole size etc. are appropriate to fit the intended species' needs. Include the following information: 1) the kinds of animal(s) for which the house is intended, 2) where and how the house should be located for best use, 3) any seasonal maintenance needed, and 4) any evidence of your personal observations or experiences. Tips: check NebGuide on bird houses and shelves.
CLASS D342002 FEEDERS/WATERERS - Make a bird bath or feeder. Examples: seed, suet, or nectar feeders. Squirrel feeders acceptable; no insect feeders. Include the following information: 1) the kinds of animal(s) for which the water/feeder is intended, 2) where are how the water/feeder should be located for best use, 3) any seasonal maintenance needed, and 4) any evidence of your personal observations or experiences. Tips: check NebGuide on feeding birds.
CLASS D342003 WILDLIFE HABITAT DESIGN BOARD OR POSTER EXHIBIT - Choose a backyard, acreage, or farm, and design a habitat plan to meet the food, water, shelter, and space needs of at least three kinds of animals you would like to attract. Draw an outline of the area and show what plants or other habitat will be provided. Indicate how the various parts of your plan provide the desired habitat needs. You might include an aerial photo of the area if you have one.
HARVESTING EQUIPMENT
CLASS D343001 FISH HARVESTING EQUIPMENT - Board exhibit. Display of equipment used in fish harvesting. Examples: fishing knots, hooks (with corks over ends for safety), and lures. Label all items displayed. Include in your exhibit the following information: the purpose of each item, when or where each item is used, and any personal experiences you’ve had with the item(s).
CLASS D343002 BUILD A FISHING ROD - Rod building kits with instructions are available for this purpose. A fishing rod educational exhibit may not exceed 96 inches in length. Exhibit must be mounted on a board. Include with the exhibit: Explanation of cost of materials/components, where materials/components were purchased, and how many number of hours required for construction. Label all parts. Necessary components which must be included are grip, line guides (based on manufacturers specifications), guide wraps, and hook keeper. Reel seat needs to be aligned with guides, and guides aligned accurately down rod. Guide wraps of size A to D, nylon or silk thread. Exhibit will be judged on: workmanship, labeling of parts, information, and neatness.
CLASS D343003 CASTING TARGET - Make a casting target for exhibit and use. Target must be under 48" x 48". The bullseyes must be 2 feet, outer band must be 1 foot in diameter and can have up to 3 rings. The exhibit must be easy to store, durable, and weather resistant. Include the purpose and rules of using your casting target.
CLASS D343004 WILDLIFE HARVESTING EQUIPMENT - Board Exhibit. Display of equipment used in harvesting wildlife. Examples: expended ammunition casings (no live ammunition permitted), steel traps, hide stretchers, fleshers, etc. For displays of shotguns, rifles, or bows, use drawings or pictures. Label all items displayed: the purpose of each item, when or where it is used, and any personal experiences you’ve had with the item(s)
CLASS D343005 INVENTING WILDLIFE/FISH HARVESTING EQUIPMENT AID OR ACCESSORY - Use engineering principles to invent or adapt equipment that helps you harvest fish or wildlife. This could include wildlife calls, adapted fishing pole for shallow water, a blind, decoys, etc. Share your drawing (or adapted plans), how the equipment works, how you tested it, and the results of testing your prototype and any adjustments you made.
TAXIDERMY
CLASS D346001 TANNED HIDES - Exhibit of a wild animal hide properly processed by the member. No requirement as to mounting but must meet the size requirement listed under General Rules. Must include the animal's name and the following: information about the 4-H member’s personal field experiences, study, OR observations that relate to the exhibit.
CLASS D346002 TAXIDERMY - Any legal fish, bird, or other wild animal properly processed by the member. No requirement as to mounting but must meet the size requirement listed under General Rules. Must include the animal's name and the following: information about the 4-H member’s personal field experiences, study, OR observations that relate to the exhibit.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Rules: See General Information.
A. Display posters must be made of material, e.g. foam board or poster board and measure no larger than 22” x 28”. Poster material should be sturdy enough to hold display items.
B. Display exhibits other than posters to be no larger than 48” x 48” and be moved by two people.
C. Journal/Binder exhibits measure no larger than 16” x 16”.
D. Consider neatness and creativity.
LEVEL 1
CLASS D341998 LEVEL 1 - SELECTING & PACKING A BACKPACK - Pack a backpack suitable for a simple day hike. Include supporting information listing all items packed, the purpose of each item for the hike, and where each item should be placed in the backpack. Exhibits in this class are NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FAIR.
CLASS D341999 LEVEL 1 - HIKING FIRST AID KIT - Pack a first aid kit suitable for a simple day hike. Contents of the first aid kit must be clearly labeled. Include supporting information listing all items packed and the purpose of each item. Exhibits in this class are NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FAIR.
LEVEL 2
CLASS D341001 LEVEL 2 - POSTER - Create a poster display no larger than 22” x 28”. Topics may include, but not limited to one or more of the following; how to pitch a tent, knot tying, cooking over a campfire, how to start a campfire, wildlife and plants identified while camping, how to set up emergency shelter, dealing with weather, collection of photos from camping trips, “Leave No Trace” and how that was followed while camping, plan a camping trip, camping essentials, environmental issues/protecting natural resources, park or trail clean up, sanitation/hygiene while outdoors or use of GPS.
CLASS D341002 LEVEL 2 - JOURNAL/BINDER - Written report of virtual or actual camping/hiking trips with observations OR field journal (notes of actual experiences, sights, sounds, smells, etc.), OR camping or hiking trip diary. Explain growth in project, leading the hikes, planning the camping trip, now being able to identify the wildlife and nature around you and how identified (sight/sound/shape/smell/color). Feathers/leaf/flower pressings must be securely attached, if included. Photos of drawing of observations encouraged. Exhibits measure no larger than 16” x 16”.
CLASS D341003 LEVEL 2 - CAMPING/HIKING SAFETY - Must include explanation of use of item and why selected/purpose, how it fits hiking/camping needs. May include, but are not limited to, one of the following: travel sized poisonous plants guide, camping first aid kit, weather/water safety or hand hygiene kit. Exhibits measure no larger than 18” x 24”.
CLASS D341004 LEVEL 2 - DIGITAL MEDIA - Use digital media to show video/slideshow/presentation of setting up a tent (include why site is chosen) or protecting natural resources or environmental issues or computer video camping/hiking game. Submit a USB drive or DVD inside a report cover or notebook. If using a slideshow, include printed slides inside a report cover or notebook. Computer equipment needed to show the judge the DVD/USB drive at the county fair must be provided by the 4-H member.
CLASS D341005 LEVEL 2 - OTHER CAMPING ITEMS - Must include what inspired the creation of the item, and its purpose. May include, but are not limited to one of the following; nature art, nature haiku poem, spider web sketches, or knot display.
LEVEL 3
CLASS D341006 LEVEL 3 - POSTER - Create a poster display, no larger than 22” x 28”. Topics may include but not limited to one of the following; Topographic map, backpacking trip plan, camp layout, plan an expedition (can be dreamed or lived), collection of photos from your expedition, trails hiked, cost comparison of rental vs purchase or using GPS/compass.
CLASS D341007 LEVEL 3 - JOURNAL/BINDER - Written report of actual, virtual or imagined expeditions/camping/hiking, OR field journal (notes of actual experiences, sights, sounds, smells, etc.). Explain growth in project, challenges in leading a group, teaching others about wildlife and nature identification and “Leave No Trace.” Exhibits measure no larger than 16” x 16”.
CLASS D341008 LEVEL 3 - EXPEDITION SAFETY - Must include an explanation of use of items, why selected/purpose of item, how it meets hiking/camping/expedition needs. May include, but are not limited to; travel sized edible plants, creepy crawly guide, tent repair kit, travel first aid kit, or weather/water safety.
CLASS D341009 LEVEL 3 - DIGITAL MEDIA - Use digital media to show video/slideshow/presentation of one of the following, but not limited to; building a non-tent shelter (include why needed), packing your backpack/equipment and getting it onto you, teaching others about environmental issues or a computer video backpacking expedition game. Submit a USB drive or DVD inside a report cover or notebook. If using a slideshow, include printed slides inside report cover or notebook. Computer equipment needed to show the judge the DVD/USB drive at the county fair must be provided by the 4-H member.
CLASS D341010 LEVEL 3 - OTHER EXPEDITION ITEMS - Must include what inspired the creation of the item, and the purpose of the item. May include, but are not limited to; nature art, nature cinquain poem, backpacking food recipes, hiking/expedition conditioning plan, charcoal etching, dehydrated meal or snack (at least 1 cup displayed in a re-sealable plastic bag with ingredients, instructions, and nutritional facts included). Exhibits measure no larger than 18” x 24”
OTHER NATURAL RESOURCES/GEOLOGY
CLASS D361001 DESIGN YOUR OWN EXHIBIT IN NATURAL RESOURCES, CONSERVATION, GEOLOGY, OR ECOLOGY - This class is for educational exhibits relating to natural resources, conservation, geology, or ecology ONLY! Entries must be appropriate for fair display and no larger than 24” x 24”. All entries must include a title and should be clear (a brief explanation or other method) about the intended purpose or message– what the exhibit is meant to show. Think about accuracy, creativity, educational value for viewers, and evidence of 4-H member’s personal experiences and learning.
CLASS D361002 GEOLOGY COLLECTION - Create an attractive display of your collection. Each specimen must be labeled and include an index card with details of the specimen recorded. Refer to labeling and display guidelines in the 4-H Geology Manual, pages 18-24. Exhibits in this class are NOT ELIGIBLE FOR STATE FAIR.