Geospatial
Department H - Section 880
Premium Schedule B
►ALL STATIC EXHIBITS MUST HAVE RECEIVED A PURPLE RIBBON AT THE COUNTY FAIR TO ADVANCE TO THE STATE FAIR.
STEM Geospatial is a diverse category that includes a variety of exhibits 4-H members can get involved in. Through participation in this category 4-H member will gain more knowledge about Nebraska’s rich history and diverse geography. Take close note of the rule to ensure your exhibit qualifies. For more resources and materials in this category refer to the resource section.
GENERAL INFORMATION
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 so owner of exhibit may be identified if the entry tag is separated from the exhibit.
Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit.
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.) All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.
Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding firearms, items with a blade, and other related items.
Please refer to the General Rules for the policy regarding use of copywritten images.
Team Entries To qualify for entry at the Nebraska State Fair team exhibit the exhibit and all supporting information must clearly be the work of a team instead of an individual, and must have at least 50% of all team members enrolled in 4-H. Additionally, all enrolled 4-H members on the team should complete and attach an entry tag to the materials. A supplemental page documenting the individual contributions to the project should be included. The entry will be judged as a team, with all team members receiving the same ribbon placing.
State fair qualified videos, presentations and other electronic exhibits should be submitted to go.unl.edu/2026nesfstem by August 15th, 2026. Videos can be uploaded to a video streaming application and exhibitors MUST provide a hard copy QR code for viewing. 4-H members are encouraged to test their codes for links on several devices to check for appropriate permissions for public viewing.
Posters in this department can by any size up to 28 inches x 22 inches when ready for display. Example: trifold poster boards are not 28 inches x 22 inches when full open for display.
Several classes require a display board which should be a height of 24 inches and not to exceed 1/4” thickness. A height of 24 7/8 inches is acceptable to allow for the saw kerf (width) if two 24 inches boards are cut from one end of a 4 foot by 8 foot sheet of plywood. Nothing should be mounted within 3/4” of the top or bottom of the board. (Example: Woodworking & Electricity.)
- Fabricated board such as plywood, composition board, or particle-type lumber may be used for demonstration displays.
- Demonstration boards should be sanded and finished to improve their appearance. The finish on a demonstration board will be judged as a woodworking exhibit.
- Demonstration boards should include an overall title for the display plus other necessary labeling.
- 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.) All reports should be computer generated and enclosed in a clear plastic cover. The reports should be attached securely to the display.
STATE FAIR EXHIBIT INFORMATION
- If the project (i.e. picnic tables, wishing wells, swings, chairs, bridges, doghouses, etc.) is designed to be used outside, it will be displayed outside.
- All outside projects MUST have entry tag and supporting information placed in a protective bag to prevent damage from weather events such as rain and be ATATACHED to project with string, zip ties, etc.
Scoresheets, forms, contest study materials, and additional resources can be found at https://go.unl.edu/ne4hstem
CLASSES
*1. Poster - Create a poster (not to exceed 14 inches x 22 inches) communicating a GPS theme such as How GPS or GIS works, Careers that use GPS or GIS. How to use GPS. What is GIS, GPS or GIS in Agriculture, Precision Agriculture or a geospatial topic of interest.
*2. 4-H Favorite Places or Historical Site Poster - The 4-H member identifies a favorite place or historical site (including grave sites) in Nebraska. Exhibit should include latitude and longitude, digital picture, and local area map. Poster size should not exceed 14 inches x 22 inches.
*3. GPS Notebook - Keep a log of at least 5 places visited using a GPS enabled device. At least one site should be from a community other than where you live. For each site, record the latitude, longitude and elevation. Also include a description of the site, a paragraph explaining what was interesting about the site or finding it. Photos of each site and/or cache are optional but encouraged.
*4. Geocache - Assemble a themed geocache (Physical geocache is REQUIRED with exhibit). Each geocache should be a watertight container. It should include a logbook and pencil for finders to log their visits and may include small trinket geo-coins, etc. for the finders to trade. Documentation should include a title, teaser description and the geographic coordinates of intended placement. The entry may include a photograph of the cache in its intended hiding place Register the site at geocaching.com following the Nebraska State Fair.
*5. Agriculture Precision Mapping - 4-H members will assemble a 8.5-inch x 11 inch three-ring notebook that will include a minimum of 2 digital copies of various data layers that can be used in precision agriculture to identify spatial patterns and/or correlations (printed copies of websites where applications can be purchased is acceptable_. A report of how the analysis of the various data will be used to make a management decision.
*7. GIS Thematic Map - Using any GIS software, create a thematic. Thematic maps can utilize any subject of interest to the 4-H member. Example map would be Amelia Earhart’s or Sir Francis Drake’s voyage population density maps, water usage maps or 4-H project in Nebraska. Create GIS Map using data from books, and or internet. Use reliable data, (U.S. Center or U.S. Census Bureau etc. ) Map any size from 8 1/2 inches x 11 inches up to 36 inches x 24 inches, should include Title, Base Map, Neat Line, North Arrow, and Legend. Identify the source of your information on the back of map.
*8. Virtual Geocache— Keep a log of at least 5 places visited using a virtual geocache platform. At least one site should be from a community other than where you live. For each site, record the latitude, longitude and elevation. Also include a description of the site, a paragraph explaining what was interesting about the site or finding it. Photos of each site and/or cache are optional but highly encouraged.